[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/JaZoKOo.gif[/img]
[i]Collab with[/i] [@January][/center]

Matt took a few tentative steps into the clearing, observing the changes in the environment. Obviously Eastern, obviously foreign compared to the medieval fantasy world of World’s End Online, and definitely…glitchy. Like it was incomplete, somehow. Like they stumbled into a dev’s test realm of some sort. He were here before, accidentally clicking an empty space in the teleportation window. And yet, once he tried again, on purpose this time around, the command still worked.
 
A flash of light, a loading screen, and here they were. Only this time, they weren’t alone. There were other players here, surrounding some NPC, who eventually introduced them to some crazy new adventure ahead.
 
Matt scratched his head, glancing at the scroll in front of him, then back at the AFK avatar of his friend, Darren, snoozing in its terrestrial travel water bubble. The prospect of a new adventure was most certainly exciting. Why not? He hadn’t seen anything about a hidden DLC of sort in this game so it would be amazing if this turned out to be some easter egg no one had discovered. It all came down to satisfying his curiosity, in the end.
 
Yet, he was hesitant to tick the ‘accept’ box. He needed to see what Darren would do, given his friend’s single minded interest in crafting material. Maybe the guy wouldn’t join, and Matt wasn’t really keen on doing quests alone.
 
As he waited for Darren, Matt took out his pipe and stuffed in a pinch of tobacco. VR tech was useful in this aspect as well, giving him the full taste and sensation of smoking, without the negative side effects. Best kind of e-cigarette there was, if anyone asked Matt.

After a quick moment, the lop-eared merman stirred, opening his eyes and dismissing most of the water orb until the aquatic body was half-submerged in an upside down dome of clear water floating several feet off the ground. He looked around, pulling up the map to check their location before finally floating towards Matt, looking confused.

“[color firebrick]Yes. I don’t know where we are either.[/color]” -As if sensing his friend’s question, Matt simply shrugged, digging through the pouches on his belt for matches. His voice came out soft and smooth and perfectly human, despite the demonic appearance of his avatar -”[color firebrick]Some DLC, I think.[/color]”

[color 3ed1c2]”Did you want to do quests here?”[/color] Darren asked, hovering closer and equipping his crafted ironwood staff. 

“[color firebrick]I mean, yeah. This place looks pretty cool. Very…anime.[/color]” -Matt lit his pipe and inhaled, waving the EULA scroll in his free hand -”[color firebrick]You’re in?[/color]” 

Darren picked up his own copy of the EULA, staring at it blankly. [color 3ed1c2]“Sure. I guess. New mats are always cool.”[/color]

“[color firebrick]Awesome.[/color]” -Matt smiled, checking the box and dismissing the scroll with a flick of his hand. He looked around to examine the gathered players then, noting their low levels. A new player area, perhaps? -”[color firebrick]You think this place is weird? Or is it just my buggy screen?[/color]” 

[color 3ed1c2]“It looks weird, yeah.”[/color] A tail fin flicked against Matt’s arm in idle animation and Darren glanced quickly for a reaction, a hasty apology ready. There had been enough mishaps and angry players reporting him for unwanted physical contact in retaliation for more social crimes. It had taken weeks for one serious case to clear up when an entire party had sent in reports—their revenge for his noncompliance in a dungeon and for pushing their tank aside to get at the room everyone else had been trying to skip. 

He was wary now, careful to keep his feathers and fins to himself, even around Matt. 

[color 3ed1c2]“My bad,”[/color] he mumbled anyway, shifting further away.

“[color firebrick]It’s fine.[/color]” -Matt turned at the unexpected contact, red eyes scanning Darren’s face carefully. He took a moment to choose his words -”[color firebrick]You’re fine.[/color]” -Eventually, his lips stretched out into a toothy grin, gleaming with unknown intentions. He exhaled a puff of smoke and turned back to observing the players around them.

“[color firebrick]Hurry up and sign that. Man, don’t tell me you read that shit?[/color]” 

“[color 3ed1c2]I wouldn’t understand much of it anyway,[/color]” Darren shrugged, accepting the terms and letting the sheet disappear. “[color 3ed1c2]But I’m not really good with new content the first time, just so you know,[/color]” he added, checking Matt’s reaction with a brief glance.

“[color firebrick]Derry, you literally just watched me stand in a corner for 50 minutes last night during our dungeon run.[/color]” -Matt answered with another grin -”[color firebrick]It doesn’t get better than that.[/color]”

“[color 3ed1c2]I just mean I’m a bit slow on the uptake for these sorts of things. It’s why I prefer crafting.[/color]” He curled the fish tail towards his chest, fiddling with the ornate fin at the end as he tried to look busy in the glitchy waiting area.

“[color firebrick]I’m sure you will do alright.[/color]” -Matt brushed it off, reaching out to ruffle the feathers on the mermen’s head and tousling the dark hair -”[color firebrick]I will be right here. Not helping, but here. I’ll keep you entertained while we wait for rez, yeah?[/color]”

A quiet laugh followed, but Darren didn’t move the hand still patting his head. 

“[color 3ed1c2]You’ll have to entertain a lot. My gear’s outdated.[/color]”

“[color firebrick]I have no gear, Derry.[/color]” -Satisfied, Matt stepped back to puff another cloud of smoke. They kept to themselves afterward, mostly just quiet banters and idle glances at the people milling around the area.