Killin' time, not players

Uta stands in front of the obligatory bullettin board, quill and parchment in one hand, eyes jumping between the messages posted there and her writing implements. She jots down a couple of lines of text, and when she's satisfied, she flicks one finger; after tappign some options, her quill and parchment shimmer and disappear.

    She still stands there, tapping one foot, and her chin (not against each other). "Most of these offers require one to almost get killed. Why is it always rats and goblins? Couldn't for once, like, petting kittens or watching ducklings?"

"It's an MMO. There are no duckling petting quests. It's all murder all the time except when it isn't for novelties sake. " Jazz arrived behind Uta, stating this dryly as she too studied the board.

"Eh, nothing too useful today."

"Nothing wrong with a little murder." That's a voice, coming from a hooded figure nearby, "Especially when people have done things to deserve it."

He moves forward from where he's leaning against the wall, "Though I was looking at it earlier, no particularly interesting contracts today. Hope that changes soon."

Uta replies, "No interesting contracts, no, but have you seen... THIS?!", and jabs at the message with the announcement about making food that tastes like food. "You were probably right, Jazz! Someone /did/ make food that tastes like the real thing!" She turns to Kasai. "...oh. Uhm. So, you're in favor of the death penalty? I suppose we have philosophical differences there, but, hey, I'm used to that. Maybe we can discuss that some time or other at some point in time. Maybe in front of a nice bowl that tastes exactly the way it looks!" She can barely contain the excitement at this point.

"I guess that depends on who's definition of 'deserving' we're using today," remarks Jazz, a dryness entering her voice as she turns to briefly regard Kasai. Then she turns back to Uta, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Looking forward to trying it, myself."

"I'm not in favor of the /state/ having the ability to take another's life." Kasai replies. However at the mention of the real food, he does lift his head a bit so they can see his face under the hood.

"So the rumors are true. Excellent." Though he has no idea how to cook, in game or out of it, he will still be able to benefit from this. Everyone will.

Well, Uta had been talking about petting cats. It just so happens that while the three are discussing the various jobs and their views on capital punishment, a cat comes zooming in. It is, a lynx, in fact.

The little creature is chasing after a rat, likely from one of those now-infamous rat dungeons, which he pounces on. Though the game might not allow PVP in towns, it apparently allows the lynx to kill the rat, as a moment later, it disappears in a shower of pixels.

"Will. You. Get. Back. Here." Mikage huffs as she pushes past a couple of Adventurers, chasing after her animal companion. The Were Fang sounds out of breath as she tries to catch up with the lynx.

    Uta puffs up at Jazz. "Well, aren't you a lucky witch aren't you!" While she starts an eager session of flicking through her menu, she replies to Kasai, "Oh. So you're more of the view that one should lift the restriction against unregulated capitalism being allowed to discretionarily take people's lives?"

    She clears her voice. "Anyway: the rumors are, indeed, accurate. You may remember my skepticism at such hearsay, so I had to go and try on my own." She's finally done, and taps the final button with a flourish.

    Light shimmers around her hand, and when that's done, Uta is holding a bottle containing a dark red liquid. "Behold! For Yours Truly has prepared /herbal potions of minor healing/-" (yes, she does emphasize the words) "-using the new instructions from the guild! And guess what? They taste /absolutely real/! Want a swig?"

    It is at this point that the disturbance happens. Uta looks around, following the animal with her eyes but standing otherwise perfectly still. "...oh, it's the old story. Someone grabs a mouse, and before you know it, one's spent the whole day following lynx."

    Blink.

    "...hey, it's a pet!" She turns and recognises the woman from the beach. "Oh, hi, Mikage! Can I pet the lynx?"

Jazz looks like she is about to say something more to Kasai, but the Sea-Witch's train of thought is interrupted.

Interrupted first by Uta, who says she's lucky and that gets a deeply incredulous look from her. Then by ... cats. Well, a cat, anyway. She's long paused for a moment, just staring at Mikage's entry, before lifting a hand towards her in hello. Then Uta again.

"... why do I have a feeling that an 'herbal potion of minor healing' probably tastes about as good as it sounds?" she asks, the tips of the tentacles attached to her head twitching with wariness.

"No, just me." Kasai replies to Uta, "I think I should be able to kill with impunity." He chuckles a little bit, though he looks at the potion that Uta is holding, "I take it you're an alchemist?" He asks, though his attention turns to the lynx and the rodent it kills, "See the cat knows what's up."

Mikage leans forward over her legs, bracing herself with her hands, still needing a moment to catch her breath. She has likely been chasing after the lynx white a ways to be that winded. At the same time, she only seems to catch bits and pieces of the conversation, "Wait. What is this about killing people?" That's exactly the confusion you get walking into a conversation mid-way.

She ends up staring briefly at Kasai as he explains his views on killing, but she just clears her throat, attention drawn to the others. Jazuhanzu has her looking surprised, "It's you!" It felt like ages since the day of the Apocalypse, but the girl has a good memory. "I never got to thank you properly for using your spyglass."

"Hey Uta." She manages. "You've been keeping busy, I see." Miki eyes the potions, but doesn't seem brave enough to hazard a taste. She's had ones before the new discovery, and can't imagine that the real taste is much better.

The lynx, in that instant, seems to circle around the spot that he had killed the rat, at least until Miki plucks him up by his middle. He squirms a little, "You can try, but he's a little wiggly at the moment. I need to get out and do some more hunting so he doesn't try to eat every small animal we come across."

Uta furrows her brow ever-so-slightly at Jazz. "Hey, I never claimed it tasted good, just... real. It tastes like not dying. Be grateful!" And then that enthusiastic smile returns. "So, wanna try it?" The liquid sloshes as the flask is extended towards Jazz. "C'moooooon. Real taste. Reeeeeal. Taaaaste." She turns to Kasai. Squint. And then she bursts into laughter. "Oh, oh, I get it, you're kidding. Establishing an aura of toughness. Nice, nice! I almost thought you were serious for a moment." Now that she is done laughing, she resumes a more normal (at least, for her) tone of voice. "Nah, just a... pharmacist kind of deal? My profession is listed as 'Doctor', but..." She looks down at herself. "...I think I look more like a Musical Kung-Fu Nurse." She frowns, and mumbles to herself "I /still/ gotta find a mirror... dang, keep getting distracted."

    "I am always keeping myself busy," Uta replies to Mikage. "It's a do-or-die world, if-"

    Pause. Hand-swipe. Menu. Inspect.

    "...Mr. Kasai, here, was really thinking of starting a murdering business, well, he'd find he'd have a really tough competition in..." She gestures all around. "...everything."

    "Soooo.... he's prone to eating small animals, hmh?", says Uta, sliding between the lynx and Jazz, as if to protect the latter. And leans down to try and pet the lynx.

"Careful you don't cut yourself on all that edge," remarks Jazz after Kasai's comment, dryly, though it's clear she isn't really taking it seriously either.

She makes a face (which only serves to make her cuter) and proceeds to turn to answer Mikage. "Oh, hey. Yeah, it's a neat little trinket. Gift from a friend, actually. I'd love to ask him where he got it.. but I'm here and he isn't. Ha. Ha ha." She sighs thereafter and eyes Uta, warily. "Think I'll pass on the real taste of herbal medicine right now. I'll save my real food experience for when it's... you know ... not terrible?" The tendrils twist a little as she ponders that aloud and she simply draws her black coat over her small form tighter. ".. eh, I really should get going."

A frown crosses Kasai's face. It's subtle, but it's there. His reputation must be almost non-existent ever since the Apocalypse. Though it's true, it's hard to take down anyone when you're the same level as them and gear has been weakened or removed entirely.

"Yeah. A joke." He replies. It's not like he can do anything when they're in the town anyway, so it's moot to worry about it currently. Plus it's not like anyone has given him a contract on either of them, "So where can we get some of that real food, anyway?"

"I'd rather avoid the die part if I can help it." Miki replies, her blue eyes flicking towards Kasai, the gaze slightly interrupted by a few stray strands of white hair hanging across her forehead.

Listening to Jazz, the Were Fang gives a nod. "Well, I appreciate it, regardless. It helped us a lot with understanding the Ezzo nonsense." Her fingers swipe in the air, bringing up her menu and tossing the Undine a friend invite. "I want to make it up to you later so... ping me sometime."

"Only when he's hungry. I've taken to trading the raw meat we hunt down to people with cooking skills so I can get some proper food made. I just... kind of forgot to keep some on hand." Mikage explains. Luckily, even when hungry, Rama is happy enough to accept affection from most people. He purrs and tries to bump his head into Uta's hand, which is hard since he's being held in place.

"Someone has to make it, like... the old fashioned way, with ingredients and fire." She answers, then shrugs. "I was never good at that in the real world, so mostly I just burn things to charcoal when I try, here."

Uta joined the game barely in time for the Apocalypse, and back then was so unfamiliar with gaming that the first time her health bar went down, a fellow adventurer had to deal with her asking if her reception suddenly got worse or she needed to plug in to recharge. So there's also that to account for when considering Kasai's fame not having reached her.

    "I also like not dying. I never really actively thought much of it, before, but lately it's something I've discovered a newfound appreciation with. Oh, wait. Yes, what is going on in Ezzo? Haven't heard much about that. And what little I've heard is /nasty/." She shudders. "I've learnt only recently that my race is supposed to originate from there... glad the random generator assigned me to the Eastal Free league or..." More intense shuddering.

    While still interacting with the lynx (or trying to, since he's being held), she replies, "I got my food burnt, exploded, shattered, evaporated, and in one case, get up and walk away on its own. Although that might have been a rat hidden underneath. But I like to think of the former as the actual explanation." A sigh back to Kasai. "...long story short, that food isn't coming from me, unfortunately." Her smile returns with tenfold enthusiasm. "But you can try a VERY REAL TASTING herbal potion of minor healing!" There goes the sloshing sound as her bottle-holding arm stiffens towards the mercenary.

    Uta nods to Jazz. "Yes, it's best if you go. It isn't safe for you, in here." A quick glance is cast towards the lynx.

Not dying is definitely a good thing. Even Jazz would agree to that. There is a pause as Mikage tells her she wants to thank her probably and it's followed by a scoff. "No need. If it helped that's all that was needed." She does quickly accept the friending, obviously getting the hang of things finally.

And then there's Uta... Uta-ing. The implication of the Lynx hunting her isn't lost on her and she just makes a face and turns to head off. Things to do, after all. A quick wave of farewell and then she's gone.

Kasai gives a look back to Mikage, he thinks he recognizes her, but he's pretty sure he's never had a contract against her, "Oh I fully believe everyone should absolutely do their best to not die." He says, with full sincerity. It's not fun if they don't try.

Though when Uta says she's not able to generate any food, he nods, "I don't have a cooking skill either, so I suppose I'll have to keep looking. I'm sure there's plenty of folks that'll be doing it, now that they know how."

"It hasn't been a problem, thus far, but Reika told me that it isn't a pleasant experience. So, I'd like to avoid the whole dying thing for as long as possible." Oh, she is definitely looking at Kasai as she says this, though the Ranger doesn't seem to be taking any sort of defensive posture. It's just a watchful expression.

"From everything I've seen, Ezzo basically got hit with one giant system malfunction. There are unbeatable giant monsters that look glitched and pixelated, the turrain generation has gone crazy, making buildings spawn over and over in really chaotic ways."

She does give a playful sort of scowl at Uta, "Ha ha. Very funny. He doesn't hunt people. Rats on the other hand, seem to be fair game." Rama seems to have calmed down while they are talking, so Miki lowers him to the ground. The lynx begins to slowly circle around Uta's feet, bumping up against her leg with his forehead.

"Best suggestion I can give is to ask around with your Guild or Alliance. Someone probably has the skill. Unfortunately I'm sworn to secrecy on who my resident cook is." More likely she doesn't want to give the name in front of a known PKer.

Uta replies, "But you said /small animals/, and... you know, Jazz, to me, falls in the same category as kittens, ducklings, and bunnies."

    She looks at Mikage with positive admiration as she lets the lynx down to play, and when the musical kung fu nurse squats down to attempt to interact with him, mostly stroke his head, she looks up for a moment, to ask "You have a resident cook? Wow, lucky you. One, because you have a cook, and two... because you have a stable place to reside." After a moment of silent interaction with the lynx, she quietly comments, "...as sad as it is to hear that the code breaks and does... broken code... things, it is, and don't get me wrong here, oddly comforting." She stares at the lynx, pensive, as he bumps into her leg once, twice, three times. "It's unsettling how real everything feels. It... you know, this feels really like my leg, with a lynx bumping against it... sometimes this kind of gets to you and you almost forget what's real and what's not. Almost."

    "I'm looking for someone with the cooking skill as well. I hope, one day, to make healing potions that taste like chicken soup."

"I'm sure she's not as helpless as you make her seem." Kasai replies, "Though that Ezzo thing, nasty business. Glad folks made it out of there okay." He'd hate to go down to a glitch of all things.

"Give it enough time, I bet someone'll open up a resturant. Then you'll just need to figure out how to make gold, instead of worrying about how to make food. There were plenty of businesses operating even before this became a...Well, I don't want to say permenent situation, but at least temporarily permenent."

"I mean, she's small, but not /that/ small." Mikage looks in the direction of the retreating Undine, as if she were trying to figure out how Uta was seeing the girl in quite so different a light. In the end, she just scratches beneath her own ear in momentary confusion.

"Oh..." She seems to catch what Uta is saying and shakes her head, "I actually don't have any place stable. I just know a person." Her shoulder lifts in a half-shrug, as if it weren't that big of a deal. "She likes cooking and I think would rather be doing that than killing monsters." Her lips quirk slightly at that. "Everyone plays in their own way."

Unlike most games, the lynx seems to really have a mind of his own. There is no movement or control from Mikage at all. The lynx looks up towards Uta, almost expectantly, his paws lightly lifting and setting abck down onto the ground. "It's pretty amazing, huh?" There is some agreement there.

Looking to Kasai, she folds her arms slightly across her chest. "There are still a lot of people there. The boats can only get so many out every day." A lot of people think the worst of the evacuations is over, but there is still work to be done. "I hope we do start seeing more shops, though. I'd definitely pay well for decent food."

Uta keeps silent at the discussion about Ezzo, preferring to look at and pet the lynx in the meantime. But when everyone is done discussing shops, she chimes in. "I'd like to open a clinic. Or... a pharmacy? A business in town." Instead of her curtain of dark hair, people can now see her face turned towards them. "People like me who haven't managed to build enough combat experience when it was still safe to do so, well, are probably better off that way." She also would like her own place to rest. And to have her own small library. But she doesn't mention that. One's own shelter and the little comforts of life is something everyone is certainly looking for at the moment.

"I mean, the game is primarily based around combat." Kasai says, as he looks over Uta for a few moments, "However I can understand not wanting to take the risk. Sure there are skills and magic, but a lot of it is still muscle memory and training. Some folks have put years into working on their skills, with stuff like Elder Tale offline and other VRMMOs."

He should know, he's one of them. He feels way more at home in this avatar than he ever did in his real body, "But folks still need support. And opening needed businesses, especially now, could be very lucrative."

"Like I said, there's a lot of ways to play the game. Being a shop owner is just as valid as a hunter." Mikage nods to the idea of opening a clinic. "It would be damn useful, too. I know I've gotten myself pretty beaten up in a couple of the dungeons." The Were Fang winces inwardly, an arm going to her stomach. "Nearly got cleaved in half by Haggar the first week after the Apocalypse."

Miki puts her hands into her pockets, trying to ward off the cold a bit. "I didn't start at launch, but I picked up ETO a little bit afterwards. Had a few other things going on when it first came out." Though she still seems wary of Kasai, she does seem to agree with him on one thing, "You'll get the hang of it the more you do it. So whatever it is you want to be good at, just work at it."

Uta comments, "Well, I am still working on my fighting skills on the side. Been training. I might go into the thick of battle, at some point, but... It's going to... uh... take time before I'm ready for a fight. A real one, I mean." Her head sinks lower into her shoulders. "Well, okay, even a fake one. Still getting beaten by the practice dummy. And it's nothing but a bunch of hay around sticks." Under her voice, she mumbles, "I'll get you one day, Haymaker-san!"

    "And... uh... I suppose right now it's less 'play the game' and more... 'earn a living'?" Again, creases of confusion form on her forehead. "...told you. It feels too real. It gets to you."

Kasai can see the bit of uneasiness that Miki is directing towards him, and he pulls his hood down, revealing his tiger-like cait sith ears, "Look, we're in town so I'm not gonna do anything. You can relax. Besides," He shrugs a little bit, "There's no open contracts right now."

"Plus I'm really trying to be nice right now. As nice as I can be, anyway." He's still getting used to having to deal with other players more often.

"Well, if you ever need someone to spar against, feel free to let me know." Mikage offers, "I promise, I'll probably take it easier on you than your practice dummy." Her lip quirks slightly, and then her tension seems to ease just a bit, giving a soft laugh. "You'll get it. Were you working with Xander on the combat stuff? He seems to be the go-to guy for that sort of thing."

Her blue eyes flick to Kasai, as if she were considering for a moment if she should explain, "That's only in Root Towns. There's no PK restrictions here in Alne." She eyes him then, as if looking to see his reaction. "Still, probably not the best idea to go red with so many people around, admittedly."

    Uta, in response to the discussion about PK'ing, does not mention that the first time that someone's name came up red upon running an Inspect on him, she complimented him all excited, mentioning how cool that was, and asked how she could get her name to show up red too. Nope. That shall not be mentioned. She tilts her head ever so slighly in confirmation, instead. "Yes, Xander. And... Master Miyoda as well. You know, this squat Okinawan-looking adventurer with an egg shaped head, big ears, kind but intense eyes, and a tendency to speak like a hero's martial arts mentor from American movies? The one who owns Master Miyoda's Swampside Used Cart Lot and Martial Arts Dojo? Earnt a few coins by waxing and dewaxing his carts. He says the experience will come in handy in battle. I... think he's just telling stories, myself." She thinks a little longer. "Does Starvo count? You know, Lander, lives at the outskirts of town, keeps getting his vegetable garden infested by moles, you have to whack them on the head..."

    After trailing off, those large amber eyes stay fixed for a few seconds, unblinking. Then she snaps out of it. "Oh, right. Sparring. Sure, I'll be glad to spar. when there's time.

"Really? Well, guess I'd better be careful then." Kasai replies, "But you're right. Turning red with a bunch of people around is a terrible idea. It's much better to do it out in the woods or somewhere that nobody's around." Though with the 24 hour timer it makes it much harder to catch the killers.

"Like I said, I'm trying to be nice. So I'm not going to do anything." He seems sincere enough. Plus there's no profit in it for him, as he's pointed out, "Might go stab some goblins or something though. Just 'cause I'm primarily a PvPer doesn't mean I won't do other content too."

"I'm... not familiar." Mikage just sort of stares at the long, rattled off description of the person in question. "Anyways, feel free to shoot me a message if you ever want someone real to spar against." She isn't quite the elite soldier that some others are. The fact that her classes aren't built for tanking would at least make her a 'softer' target.

"Just so long as you don't end up like that poor PKer who ended up running around in his skivvies." There is a glint of amusement in her eyes that suggests Miki might just know what happened to him to cause that embarassing set of circumstances. "Though from your reputation, I would guess you aren't quite so much of a pushover."

Uta flicks one finger, and her menu opens. "...well, look at the time, I really have to go now." She turns her head to the duo as she dismisses the menu. "Been really nice talking to you, and I'll make sure to take that sparring offer!" But now, uh, bye!