CloudHaven
Market District
Affected Players: Isaac, Pyotr
Isaac continued to watch the Harlequin's performance with interest, his smile gradually growing as he began to forget the scenario he was in. It went on for a blissful 5 minutes, as laughter, cheering, and good moments were created. It was going great until he wondered if the Harlequin used to be a performer in real life...Isaac's smile faded. Yet he continued to watch, and when the Harlequin had finished, Isaac was the first to clap, and it was followed by cheers and other chatter from the crowd as they made comments about his performance. Isaac sighed, his gaze still on the Harlequin.
Pyotr went on and on in his performance, going from an over the top heartbreaking monologue, trying his earnest to draw sympathy from the crowd, to a rousing speech and finally ending his encore performance with a few light-hearted jokes, trying to break up the dire situation some might find themselves in, and make them forget about their worries if just for a few minutes. He flounced and waved his hands, the smiles and cheers driving him on, till he finally called an end to it with a last joke to send the crowd on their way happy, thanking them profusely all the way - though he did make sure to keep his eyes on the more interesting ones, especially so when he found a particular boy, one with a rather striking appearance with his fair blonde hair and tan skin, evidently staring at him. Bowing and smiling and soon having dispersed most of the audience, he kept his eyes on him, staring right back until most other people had gone on with their business - though the harlequin didn't take his gaze off him for a second, even raising a painted eyebrow, wondering whether the boy would say anything.
Isaac hadn't realised that he had been staring the whole time, but it became apparent to him as soon as the Harlequin looked right at him, and raised an eyebrow. Isaac blinked a bit in surprise, and could feel a bit of heat on his cheeks in embarassment. He cleared his throat. "Sorry...I didn't realize I was staring," he said, "-it'snotaboutthewayyoudressIswear" he added quickly. He hated being awkward, it was one of the few things that made him an idiot. Like joining this game."It's just that I'd been wondering during your performance.... how do you do it? I mean, how are you so happy? You're one of the very few people that seem to have a smile, or seem to make the most of it, and damnit, I want to know how." His voice wavers at the end, he felt his eyes begin to water. The Harlequin gave Isaac a grin before tumbling off his stage quickly, until he was right in front of the taller boy. "Well, that'd be the question, wouldn't it?" He examined the knight-like figure standing in front of him from top to bottom, the grin not having faded from his face as he looked up at him. "Well, allow me then to be serious for just a minute - a rare occurance, treasure it! - my life before this didn't go so well, mmh? But here, you can be whatever you want! Tell me then, if you want, what was life like before you got stuck here?"
Isaac's gaze looked down on the Harlequin's painted face, "It was how I wanted it to be, and I wanted nothing to be different. The idea of me being in this life..this virtual, fake life...with my parents and family at home looking at my real life body, thinking I'm in some sort've coma or dead it just sickens me!" He slowly exhaled, looking up at the sky for a second as he did so before looking down at the Harlequin and talking again. "Not to mention all the Pkers everyone's been talking about, and the people that have already died just two days into the game. I'm just...overwhelmed. I know I need to increase my levels and experience so that my survivability is more likely if I ever do meet a Pker. But I can't really do solo quests because I'm a mere support. I'm not really one to do much damage. Just to help peel for people who do do damage, and soak up all of the damage for them you know?" Another deep breath, trying to calm down a bit. Isaac was sick of being homesick, and being annoyed at this stupid game.
"Ah, so what you are meaning to tell me is that you are searching for a group to be safe. Doesn't look like we are so unlike each other, you and I!" Pyotr let out a bright laugh, slapping Isaac on his armored back before withdrawing his hand in a grimace of pain, though neither his laugh nor his words stopped for as much as a second. "My calling is to make people smile after all! You don't like people killing each other in this game, do you?" The harlequin got on his tip toes, trying to go eye-for-eye with the boy though he was still short a couple of inches, "Well, it seems like you have found your calling in protecting those who need it! Maybe in the grateful laugh of someone you saved from a killing blow, or in the sheer appreciation of someone you helped protect, you will find your happiness? How... noble! How lordly! How inspiring! But first! We must find you these people to protect, I say! We must find your happiness and grab it, and not let it go again! There must be groups who are simply dying at the prospect of having someone like you protect them! On our way, then!" He took hold of the Hope Seekers arm with both hands and tugged, though soon realising he had no chance of budging him even an inch by himself, and settled for just moving up ahead, looking back at Isaac to see if he would follow, or if he had anything else to say.
Isaac smiled faintly as he slapped his back, and did a slight laugh when he saw his grimace of pain, but before he was able to respond the Harlequin was already rambling on. He had never thought of such a thing, the happiness of saving a person as a support...the idea appealed to him. Every character was a person in real life, besides the NPC's. If he was able to save a couple real life lives...he'd be doing something good for the real world. He could make a real change. The idea lightened his chest, feeling like a faint weight was off his shoulders. What the Harlequin had brought up had a good point of view, a good path to follow. He could still make a change for the people in the real world, and he would do a good, no; brilliant job of it. A tiny tug caught Isaac's attention, realizing the Harlequin had tugged him, before motioning to follow him. Isaac gave a white smile. "Let's go find that group"and he walked with the Harlequin.
