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Souyu no Phoenix Vice Captain
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 Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 8:40 pm
--The series of ethereal, golden rings heralding the beginning of a player's journey in the Game went largely unnoticed by everybody but the grey-eyed samurai standing in their midst. They faded as quickly as they appeared, but Bushi's eyes lingered for a moment on the empty space where they had cascaded around her—while she wasn't much for video games, the effect had been attractive.
--Another player half shoving his way past her from behind snapped her back to attention, and those same grey eyes flitted upwards for a split-second in exasperation, even as she staggered back upright. Well that, at least, wasn't any different from downtown Chicago. Perhaps, she thought with a mental grimace, I should take some pains not to act like a tourist.
--Bushi set down the wide brick street at a brisk pace; there was something in the city around her that reminded her a bit of the old districts of London, where she'd spent a summer with her grandparents when she was still fairly young and introverted. The dim twilight belied the bustling thoroughfares, but despite the crowds, there was something… strangely calming about the evening air, however imperceptible it may have been. Perhaps it was the almost familiar surroundings… or maybe it was simply the fact that she could still feel her very familiar, if not quite comfortable, dorm chair on her back.
 --She idly flicked through the transparent tutorial screens that overlaid the HUD. She may not have played many games in her time, but she had grown up on Mario and Pokemon much like anybody else, so the controls and structure present weren't entirely unfamiliar. Finally, she reached the end, and another notification pinged. Is there any end to this? she grumbled internally—just as she bumped heavily into a tall man. Right after I was just complaining about somebody else, too.
--"Oh, geez, I'm really sorry," the flustered fencer stammered. "I was reading the—"
--"No worries," the robed figure in front of her replied, patting himself off. "No harm, no… hey, that's actually a really cool character. Are you new? I'm sure I would have remembered a character design like that."
--Bushi glanced down at her dress while Cori blushed momentarily behind her visor. "Er, yeah. Thanks, it took me a while to come up with." The dark-haired man squatted down, taking a long, appraising look. "Ah…"
--"I'm UzukiJin," he replied. The friendly tone was a little out of place considering the… odd circumstances. Was this normal behavior in an online game? The blonde blinked uncomfortably. "Wow, this is some really creative work. This is all basic character creation elements, too." Suddenly he glanced up and met the increasingly nervous girl's eyes. "Oh, uh, sorry about that. I'm kind of a samurai nut. Big fan of Ran and Seven Samurai. Oh, and the Samurai trilogy is really awesome, too, I loved the filmwork on that. Don't get me wrong, I like Kurosawa's filmwork, but there's something about Inagaki's work in the two Duel movies…" The man trailed off as he once again noticed Bushi's stare.
--"Um, anyway, nice to meet you," he stammered nervously. "I'm not usually such a spaz, really. Uh… here, take this to make up for it. I think it'll go pretty well with your character, too!" Another notice pinged in the upper left corner of her HUD, and she selected it a bit suspiciously.
*Congratulations! UzukiJin has sent you a gift!*
Gunto
Lvl 5 One-Handed Sword
Accept----Reject
--Well… I guess he's just weird. "Er, thanks." She hit the accept button, and flashed the awkward man a brief smile. "And it's fine about earlier, I guess. Just… don't try to peek up my dress again?"
--"Uh, yeah," he responded, obviously embarrassed. "Um, I sent you my member address, too, if you, um. Need a favor or anything. Maybe if you want someone to show you around?"
--"Member…" Was that how people sent private messages to each other? "Right, I think I remember that from the tutorial. Anyway, I probably really should…" She glanced meaningfully down the street along which she'd been walking until a few minutes ago. UzukiJin turned to meet her gaze before stepping back.
--"Sure. Sorry again for the trouble."
--I guess this is The Game, huh?
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Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 3:25 pm
 RYKER-THE THIEF Ryker spawned within the city, near the golden rings that stood at the gate to the city. This was the spot where most new player's started their journey, and so Ryker found it easy to take advantage of the newbies by pick pocketing their money or selling them useless rubbish that just seemed slightly appealing. Lowering his hat over his eyes, Ryker went to his usual post to keep a look out for the dazed expressions, spazzy movements, or any of the other tell tale signs that this was their first time playing. He spotted a female with blonde hair and dressed in traditional samurai garb. He watched her get smacked into by an over-zealous character. He had seen him around before, but he never remembered names because he never talked to them more than once. Mostly they ignored him- who wouldn't after being conned- but they also didn't go out of their way to warn the other new characters, either because they didn't care and had moved on already, or they wanted to have the satisfaction of watching someone else getting ripped off the same way that they had. It was a win-win situation for him as it allowed him to continue his practice. He began to shadow her, waiting for the opportune moment to make his move. He followed her along the brick path. By the looks of it, she was still completing the tutorial, which was even better for him. That was, until a stranger stepped out. Well, UzukiJin, as was his username. He was one of the medium leveled players, though he was putting on a good show. Ryker couldn't hear most of their conversation as he was keeping out of sight behind one of the buildings. Their exchange took maybe six minutes before he disappeared again, and Ryker was left to make his move. "Ahh, you must be new. I see you met Uzuki, nice guy huh? I'm Ryker."He held out his hand so that he could give her a handshake. He was still waiting for the opportune moment to relieve her of her newly acquired gold from completing the tutorial. (edited)
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Souyu no Phoenix Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 5:17 pm
--The endless cycle of porting in and out in the heart of the Nocturne server's City of Twilight was nothing new to the bright, if tired, brown eyes peering out from beneath Riße's wavy bangs. It had been… three months since the last time the moderator had been able to log in to the game whose official messageboards she administrated; as one of the moderators most intimately involved in public relations, Rhys had been completely slammed working overtime since the server incident, even though she, herself, barely knew anything more than the lines the PR department had fed her. What little time she'd had to herself since then had been largely spent avoiding the Game—and the internet in general—, mostly attempting to keep the late hours she'd been keeping at work from unduly affecting her skin. While not overly vain, Rhys tended to get much more concerned when she thought her environment or habits might have a permanent effect on her appearance.
--Sighing, she forced herself to turn away from that line of thought. She'd logged in to her "workplace" during her off hours to try to relax, strange as that sounded. Perhaps due to the nigh-constant dusky pall hanging over it, the Nocturne server was host to some of her favorite places to relax in Larmadia—and since her absolute favorite was closed off with the rest of the Náströnd server, she was content to enjoy another of her spots.
--She brushed a lock of brown out of her face before making her way purposefully down the streets of the city. With Sachiel's Cover, which largely served as her only obvious badge of her station, obscured by the half cape she had included in her character design specifically for the purpose, she was largely ignored by the other players lining the well-lit streets.
--Finally coming to the circle that Serafina usually lingered at this time of night, she slowed and finally came to a stop next to the brilliantly-lit, if small, fountain in the center of the clearing. Peering around, she didn't see the small hunter in any of her usual spots, and she shot off a short private message before settling on the edge of the fountain to wait for a reply.
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
--It wasn't long after the robed stranger had disappeared around a nearby corner that a blond man in dark clothing approached her, extending his hand as he introduced himself. Bushi paused for a moment to take the newcomer in before making a show of glancing immediately around herself, reaching around her sides to pat her back down, her face taking a sardonic set as her brief pantomime came to a stop.
--"Have I got a sign on my back? My level's not flashing above my head or something, is it?" she fired off blithely before a light smile touched her lips, her narrow grey eyes somehow hard and playful at the same time. "Seems like everybody here tonight can tell I'm a newbie." The young woman sighed before puffing a strand of hair out of her face, the motion momentarily drawing her attention to a pretty, if plain-looking, brunette sitting at the edge of the nearby fountain.
--The blonde fencer turned her impenetrable gaze back to the man in front of her. "I'm sure the pleasure is mine," she continued easily, her voice taking on a steadier tone as she took his hand in the firm, if brief, grip she'd quickly learned was standard at her workplace. "You can call me Bushi, Mr. Ryker." The young girl pursed her lips thoughtfully for a moment before speaking again. "Do you, ah, do you know your way around this server very well?"
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