[IC] Paradise

[ProfessorNV]

Hazard had no problem whatsoever with Prince joining the two of them, "Hey man, the more the merrier! Just dont nap while were out" he said jokingly. He looked over at Mari as Catt asked what she had meant, then went on to explain what it was the Esquen had wished. "Its funny, I used to wonder what it was like to actually live a life like this, seems like now Ill get to figure that out firsthand. But hey! At least Im not alone! I got you losers!" he said with a laugh, placing his hands on his chest and beaming a smile to the group.

[MarshiestMallow]

Cattypea frowned at Marinette tried to explain what she had meant. In a way, she could understand it. The game gave them a way of exploring, challenge and surviving, without risking their lives, enabling them to do things that seemed impossible in real life, in a world that did indeed seem real. But now....they could die quite easily.

"We aren't recklessly going out to fight monsters" she said suddenly, her voice tinted with anger. "But rather to survive. I want to be of some benefit to the group, and I can't do that when I have a lower level then nearly everyone. I don't want to be a burden. I would have gone out by myself, but its a better bet to go out as a group. Safer" she shrugged, glancing down. Conflict was hard for her. She bit her lip, then sighed heavily.

she looked over to Hazard, and managed a smile, nodded "yeah, you do"

[Bubsy 2]

A memory arose from the deep recesses of Hazel Hosner's mind. It was the last time she had seen her grandparents, the Christmas of 2044. It looked now that it might very well be her last time she had seen her grandparents. The lived in Sacramento, California; warm summers, cold, rainy winters. The past few years were taken with drought, but this Christmas the rain came in torrential downpours. It seemed to Hazel that the Heavens merely saved the rain from the last few years, and chose now to pout it down upon them all at once. More specifically she remembered something her grandmother had said: "Hazel, you're a beautiful girl, you're smart, and you're charming, but I'll never understand the obsession with video games. I swear, they'll be the death of you." Back then Hazel merely gave her grandma an exasperated sigh. She'd heard it before, and she didn't care.

Now she could only think that they might have been right.

Mantam's awakening was gradual. She had faded in and out, hearing bits of conversation. "I don't want any of this..." she muttered, likely going unheard. This time she rose from the couch she now found herself lying upon, and spoke aloud. "We have to be careful... I'm sure you've accidentally wiped before from accidentally aggroing one too many mobs in an MMO. If that happens here, that's it. We can't let it happen." Her head still swam. She was in shock. The words came out slow, but they came out.

Mantam was embarrassed that she passed out, but she pushed it out of mind. She had to call her parents, and quick. They sometimes had a habit of unplugging her suddenly, and if that happened now it would be very bad. She voiced her concerns to the group, "If you live with anyone, contact them right away. I'm sure they'll notice our absence eventually, and getting unplugged now would not be good." This times the words came out quicker, more sure. "I need to make a phone call." She said, making her exit from the Cave so she could have some privacy. She opened the in-game phone application and began dialing. She knew this wasn't going to be an easy conversation.

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Komi

When the news went on Komi's face went a little paler. She quickly looked around her at the others, maybe they were playing a joke on her or something. It didn't look like a joke guessing from the others their reactions Bullshit they can't do something like that. She opened up her menu and found out there wasn't a logout button anymore. Her finger was tapping like crazy, slowly her teeth started grinding each other and her voice became very violent Quit screwing with me you #*&@#!* Komi turned to the group again showing off a lot of body language while talking They can't do something like this right, I mean how can they even make something like that. Maybe they are just lying they could have done that. She turned to Raijin Right? Komi was surely stressing out while she was talking to everyone even when she tried to laugh to Raijin it showed signs of not wanting to believe what the man just said.

When she calmed down a little she turned to the admiral again when she started talking to her. Her face went somewhat serious when she gave a nod to Cynthia Got it. Komi heard Raijin talking about supply running the town, since she didn't trust anyone fully yet she decided it would be the best to stick with Raijin for now. Staying with the ear licking girl wasn't the best choice to do since she still felt shivers from before Oh i'll go with you Raijin She hobbled over to Prince first to give him most of the coins she owned. She holded both her hands above Prince his hand to store 12 golden coins in his hand I haven't seen you around yet so i'll introduce myself once more. I'm cherry lover level four pilot, let's get along. She smiled at him for a mere moment but her smile was broken by the guy next to her who just called her a losser. Komi balled up her fist and raised it in front of her I'll punch you once I get back she said angry to the guy while running over to Raijin and Cynthia Wait up Once she was close to them she walked normally again with both her hands holded together behind her back.

[Darcs]

Marinette found herself shrugging at most of what Catty was saying, "Maannn..." she looked at Catty, her head tilted to the side slightly, "I've been surviving all my life... we all have, and we'll keep doing that, surviving and whatnot... but... surviving... it's not enough, it never is!" Marinette's expression was carefree, and her arms seemed to spread as if she wanted to hug all three of them, "We can't let this get to us. Whatever this is, whoever's doing it, they sent that message out for a reason, they know the first step to getting us is wearing down our resolve. We can't lose our resolve, or our hope, or just... the things that make us happy."

She looked Catty in the eyes, a slightly more serious expression, "We can't give them control-- they don't have it, we're still alive, we're still together, we're still in control. So sure, we'll survive, but there's no reason to not also enjoy ourselves while we survive..." She broke her gaze with Catty and found herself looking at the artificial Paradise sun, "We'll be fine, we're pretty fucking great."

And with that, she began to walk slowly ahead of the group, "So c'mon, I wanna fight dragons." Marinette turned quickly again, "Arnoth does have dragons, right?"

[MarshiestMallow]

Cattypea found herself suddenly overwhelmed, annoyed at what Marinette was saying. "I never said we can't live, but there's no point doing something completely life threatening. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be alive to do all I've dreamed about since I was barely five."

"Momma! Daddy!" She felt like she had been yelling for hours, but they wouldn't reply. Her throat hurt, her eyes were sore. She had been bleeding from a cut, but that had stopped. "Mommy!" She sobbed, "Daddy!"

Her eyes slammed shut tight, as the memory flashed through her mind quickly. She took a few seconds to compose herself, before continuing. "I have to call my uncle and my aunt" She said, turning away, and opening the in game phone. She didn't take long to talk to her uncle, to tell him what was happening. She didn't need to see the fear in his eyes, the worry, to know what went through his mind.

what if you don't come back? They had raised her since she was five. They had treated her like their own, and cared for her. In many ways, she was their daughter, she knew. And her uncle feared for her like she was, and feared for his sisters child.

She managed a smile and said, "I'll be okay. I have good people with me. I'll survive" She said, and said goodbye. Then she turned back to the others, composed, and said, "I'm ready. I'm not sure I'm ready to fight dragons, if they exist though"

[chukklehed]

Cynthia hesitated for a moment, and it seemed she wasn't going to answer Raijin's question. "My brother." She finally said, then turned to the pilot.

"Good to have you aboard. I wish it could have been under better circumstances, but with a Pilot our group is nearly rounded off." She looked up at the sky for a second, then ran ahead a few steps. "I'm going to take the short way there. Rai, when you're done with your errands, bring her to The Pub." She said, naming the place the group usually went besides the Cave. With that, she leaped up in the air a ways, then spread her wings and hovered for a second, giving a cheerful salute before taking off into the sky. At the same time, a voice chat icon popped into Raijin's view.

[Raijinslayer]

Raijin nodded, not digging any deeper as he to overstep his boundaries. He turned to Cherry with a smile on his face, though it was tinged with a bit of melancholy.

"Ditto what Cynthia said, but hey, let's do our best out of our situation. And if we ever meet the guy who did this, we could give an . . . enlightening lecture on the consequence's of his actions., before making the fucker log everyone out." Raijin spoke the last part in a dark tone as he walked towards the near by town, before lightening u a little, and turning to wards Cherry again. "Anyway's first things first, lets get some supplies, what do you think we're going to need, besides plenty of healing potions and basic traveling supplies." Raijin pressed the little voice chat button as he spoke, probably Cynthia wanting to keep tabs on him and Cherry, incase anything bad happens.

"Hello, you are speaking to Raijin, what may I help you with today?"

Void was behind Cherry, rubbing up against the pilot's legs, seeming to know that she was under some kind of duress, and wanting to do something to help her feel better.

[Bubsy 2]

Hazel finally finished on the phone. It was a difficult conversation, to say the least. She felt completely drained, both by the news of their inability to log out and the verbal brow beating her parents gave her. If she had the choice she wouldn't have called them, but she didn't have much choice if she wanted to stay alive. She returned to the group wit a huff, "It looks like we're all in this together now. If we want to survive this we'll have to work together," Mantam began, "And no matter what we make sure no one dies." She didn't know what the future would hold, but the Book of Life would certainly contain their first hints. She summoned it from her inbox and began to scan it intently.

The book made no damn sense. So much for that idea. "I'm sure it must be some kind of code... or something... he said it was supposed to be a hint, it must have some kind of meaning." That was here meek offering to the group, along with the money she drained from her bank account. It was quite a bit for characters their level, money chiefly transferred from her alt when she first made 'Mantam'. It, of course, wouldn't but them everything they needed but she hoped it would help. She tossed the money, neatly contained in a small bag, at Prince.

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Komi

Cynthia already went off on her own taking the short way through the sky Good luck Cherry waved at her while she flew off. It wasn't long before she faced Raijin Isn't it dangerous on your own now since anyone can ambush you easily when they are with a large group? Is she gonna be alright on her own. Cherry stared in front of her again while maintaining the same speed as Raijin. It still seemed pretty peaceful around them, not much people have passed them yet. Raijin spoke up to her again, it made Cherry automatically turn her head to him I don't think we need much apart from food, drinks and potions. We can have a look around the shops in the center of the town to see if there is anything we need. We can't spend to much money tough, the money would be useful for a new base or a guild.

Raijin stopped walking to start a voice call with Cynthia. Cherry didn't really know why he called her but she just letted him finish his call. Cherry felt something furry rubbing on her lower leg from the back. She turned around to see Void rubbing up against her leg Aww little Void want's to play she squatted down near the ground and started petting him in his neck and on his back while rubbing her face against his You are pretty hairy aren't you she laughed a little and waited for Raijin to finish his call while she kept entertaining Void.

[ProfessorNV]

After the others had finished their small talk before making their way out on their own little jobs, Hazard reached for his rifle and secured it onto him before looking at Catt and Prince. "Well guys, it's high time we get moving, if you have finished making your calls, I say we get on going and get you guys leveled up!" he said with a large smile, making his way out of the cave. He waved his goodbyes to the others saying that he wasnt planning on taking them out too far. "I'll call if we need something, but with ol' PotShot, I'd say we're gonna be safe" he said with a chuckle as he pat his rifle. The others had people they could call in the real world, that was something he envied of them. His own parents decided to disown him just for the fact of having an online game, hell the last time he saw them was last year as he moved out with the rest of his things. He was safe in his apartment, the place was locked up and... well he didnt have any friends in town so no one would really check up on him. He waited out of the cave for the other two to catch up.

[HylianRose]

Prince swallowed as mention of calling family and friends was mentioned. He mindlessly caught the money that was thrown at him and placed it in the account with a blank face. He tried not to think too hard about it. He could call them, he really could. But something deep down told him not to, told him it wouldn't do any good, they would only yell and then where would he be? He let out a soft sigh and smiled over at Hazard.

"I wouldn't call people losers so lightly, not all of them are so keen to your humor." He told him as he poked him lightly with his staff. "Still, I think you might deserve that punch somehow. Whenever it comes, anyway." He chuckled, walking behind Hazard. "Lead the way, loser." He continued, smiling.

No, there weren't any dragons on Arnoth. But there were some rather dangerous creatures, ones that if taken out would let you gain more exp than you knew what to do with it some cases. But, he wouldn't let them know about them. For now, he racked his brain for a creature more their level.

"I think we should be able to take on an elemental wolf... Either that or we find a hideout and kill some bandits. The bandits will give us more cash, but less exp and the wolves will give us close to no cash but more exp and they'll be harder to kill depending on the type..." Prince explained, looking over to Hazard. "What do you think? I know where we could find either if you'd like me to lead us there." He continued. Prince, while being lazy was surprisingly well versed in the world of Paradise considering his other play-throughs. It wouldn't take him long to figure out the best ways to get what they needed done and he hadn't a pretty good idea of the maps of the area and where to find certain things. He wasn't perfect, but it would have to do.

[ProfessorNV]

Hazard merely shrugged as Prince poked him with the staff, chuckling as he too was called a loser. He listened to Prince with his full attention as he mentioned about what they could face to get what. He thought about it a moment, then replied;

"Well, what if we try to split it? Part time we can hunt down elemental wolves, the other part can be spent on the bandits. We can get the best of both worlds that way. Whats the best places you know of man?"

[MarshiestMallow]

Cattypea had fallen silent, and followed after the two boys, listening as they talked. She would go anywhere, just so long as she could try and level, and not be a burden. As she walked, she tried to gain complete composure, and place herself as the person she wanted to be. Cattypea, and not quite, lonely Kalinda. Cattypea who had friends, and wasn't just tolerated. As Prince and Hazard discussed what to attack, Catty looked about.

She wondered briefly how other people were taking this news. How many people would die today. How many people were calling their families. How many people were doing what they were doing. Which then told her what she needed to know, to contribute to the leveling party. She cleared her throat, and spoke up "let's go for the wolves now. We have enough money between all of us to survive for now, but I think a lot of people will simply go for the bandits, purely for the money. But if we level, if we grind some, we can attack better monsters, receive more exp and coin, then if we just hang back and merely play for money"

She looked at them both, "and leveling lets us become stronger. We can fight, and we can provide. We should also think about training other things besides our fighting schools. Being able to cook, to hunt and what not will let us be able to feed ourselves" she said thoughtfully "but for now, let's level up"