[sup][h2][color=fdc68a]The Love Problems of Drunkards[/color][/h2] [@Inertia][@Hero][/sup][hr] The duo of drunkards had, surprisingly, attentively listened to Rei and Étoile. The drunks couldn't seem to contain their excitement after hearing Rei's battle plan of "just confess, pussies". Their virility seemed to double when Étoile suggested going at the same time. [color=7bcdc8][b]"Thas fekking genyus!"[/b][/color] The stout, bearded drunk exclaimed with the ferocity of ten drunkards. [color=fff79a][b]"Ye! If confess at the same time, we ain't gonna fite. An-an-an there ain't no way she can reject us both!"[/b][/color] The ugly patron yelled out in a fit of excitement. [color=7bcdc8][b]"Les fekkin' go confess!"[/b][/color] The stout, bearded drunk exclaimed with the ferocity of ten drunkards. The duo dashed out of the bar like a bat out of hell. Whatever was going to happen was sure to be a good show. Surprisingly, the duo didn't run far. Across the street from Anton's bar was a small building sandwiched between the walls of two buildings. About the size of an ordinary room, the building was unassuming from the outside. The only difference seemed to be the blacked out windows and the thick cloths that acted as a door. Without any hesitation, the duo swung the thick cloths open. Light seemed to stop at the doorway. A thick haze of smoke seemed to emanate through the room, but it refused to escape. With the only light of the room coming from blue flames that aimlessly floated through the room, a single figure was illuminated. Sitting behind a table with a crystal ball was a woman. She held a long cigarette holder and blew a thick plume of smoke into the room, only adding to the considerable haze that enshrouded her. Her face was concealed by a black veil that ended at her mouth. Her long wavy silver hair seemed to glow alongside the will-o-wisps. Her appearance seemed to make Étoile look like nothing more than a child. The duo, with the directions of Rei and Étoile, confessed their love in the most appealing the way they could. [color=7bcdc8][b]"Magnolia! I love you! Go out with me!"[/b][/color] The stout, bearded drunk confessed, his words careful to hide his drunken stupor. [color=b683c4][b]"No."[/b][/color] Magnolia bluntly stated. The ugly patron licked his lips and ran his hands through his hair. He was obviously excited. [color=fff79a][b]"I love you Magnolia,"[/b][/color] the ugly patron confessed, [color=fff79a][b]"go out with me!"[/b][/color] [color=b683c4][b]"No."[/b][/color] [color=fff79a][b]"But-"[/b][/color] [color=b683c4][b]"No."[/b][/color] [color=fff79a][b]"You rej-"[/b][/color] [color=b683c4][b]"No."[/b][/color] The duo were defeated by a single word. Dejected, they solemnly walked back to the bar. [color=7bcdc8][b]"Ya tried... kidsh,"[/b][/color] the stout, bearded man said. He took out a small notebook from his pocket and ripped out half of the pages in a bizarre feat of strength. With a half-used pencil stuck in the rings, he handed the notebook to Rei. It was half-used, but it was a marked improvement over scraps of paper and borrowing an ink and quill. He pulled out a small leather bag from his other pocket, giving it to Étoile. It was coins, enough for a few days worth of expenses. Without another peep from the two, they walked together to a table and began to weep. What a bizarre day. [hr] [sup][h2][color=f49ac2]The Inevitable[/color][/h2] [@Raijinslayer][@ShwiggityShwah][/sup][hr] [color=01c4ba][b]"I'm Gideon, but most people call me Gil,"[/b][/color] the doctor said, [color=01c4ba][b]"that man you were carrying [i]was[/i] a man named Daniel, but he's more or less lost it."[/b][/color] Gideon walked over to the sedated Daniel and pulled out the needle from his arm. From a nearby table, Gideon tore off some loose cotton fluff and rolled it into a ball. He placed it where the needle had entered and asked the small nurse for pressure. The small nurse jogged over to the other end and pressed down on the cotton ball for him. [color=01c4ba][b]"So many questions,"[/b][/color] he sighed as he walked to another patient. [color=01c4ba][b]"As far as I know, nothing. Don't know what's wrong, don't know why. Every few weeks, someone just goes insane and tries to kill themself by walking into the wilds. Kind of like ubasute, but, you know, suicide and not senicide."[/b][/color] The nurse with burn scars took a step back from Korrey. Rather than being spooked or intimidated by the appearance of Korrey. Rather, she seemed to be more annoyed by him if anything. She pulled out a bell from her pocket and rang it. Gil looked up from the patient. With rapid-fire speed, she made dozens of quick movements with her hands. [color=01c4ba][b]"She said that the man we get out medicine from is surprisingly late. None of us are in a position to check out what's going on, so she's asking if you want to head out about five hours north to check if he's okay."[/b][/color] [hr] [sup][h2][color=82ca9d]Heroes Wanted[/color][/h2] [@SilverPaw][@Inkarnate][@Sola][/sup][hr] [color=fdc68a][b]"That's one hell of a long-winded introduction,"[/b][/color] he teased Kat, [color=fdc68a][b]"to answer your question, my body may look wonderful, but I'm a geomancer, a mage tried and true. Name's Tien."[/b][/color] His excitement seemed to ooze from every action he took. Finally, someone took interest in conquering these ruins with him. He took to answering whatever question Kat had. After all, it wasn't often that he would get an interested party. [color=fdc68a][b]"There isn't really any flesh and blood inside, but I can grab something along the way, if you'd be down with it. Kinda weird though."[/b][/color] He told her everything he knew about skeletons and the ruins. The layout of the ruins was a bit difficult to surmise. The ruins were considerably large, but paths kept on being opened and closed due to falling rubble. This made it difficult to find a safe route inside and outside of the castle. Skeletons were rather standard. They often wielded terrible weapons and wore no armour, keeping the good stuff unused in their treasure piles. They often came back to life, unless the skull had been destroyed. Thankfully, the skull was usually brittle enough that a well placed stomp turned the skeleton to dust. Skeletons were also aggressive little turds. Unless they were hauling treasure back to the castle, they were willing to sacrifice their lives for whatever gear an adventurer was carrying. Wild animals tended to ignore skeletons and vice versa. [color=fdc68a][b]"I'll stay about here if you're looking to recruit elsewhere. Maybe someone else heard the little conversation from earlier and wants to join in. We should meet up at the south gate in about two hours, then."[/b][/color] [hr] [sup][h2]An Old Man and His Guitar[/h2] [@eRode][/sup][hr] [color=b7b7b7][b]"Don't mind at all,"[/b][/color] Clyde laughed, [color=b7b7b7][b]"never seen anyone so interested in folk music before."[/b][/color] Without much hesitation, he rattled out a few verses. With the only common theme behind them being 'Cumberland Gap', the verses were considerably different. Hilarity, joy, sadness, each verse varied in the amount of emotions put into words. His singing was considerably less laboured. Without having to stoop to the poor level of his guitar-playing, he was able to sing at a more frenetic pace, adding a new layer of complexity into the song. Still, without an accompanying instrument, the song felt considerably empty. [color=b7b7b7][b]"Well, that's just some verses,"[/b][/color] he said, a happy grin stretching across his face, [color=b7b7b7][b]"but the entire point of that song ain't really to remember the lyrics exactly. It's to make your own."[/b][/color] With a strenuous bend, Clyde had bent over to pick up his guitar. [color=b7b7b7][b]"And that's what adventuring is like. No real point in tellin' you exactly what I did. We all go at different paces. What could've been hard for me could be easy for you and likewise. Just move at your own speed and don't worry too much 'bout what others are doin'. There ain't no rigid process to be an adventurer."[/b][/color] At this point, his smile had faded. It had been replaced by a more stern, serious look. [color=b7b7b7][b]"Adventuring is dangerous. I was lucky enough to make it this far. Lotsa people I knew weren't as lucky. It's a rough road if you want to be an adventurer. Should get going, though. They should be done filling up my supplies, so I should go where the wind takes me now. You can see me off and ask a few more questions, though."[/b][/color] [hr]