In The Fields Of Gold

    The open field among the trees is a peaceful place when someone wants to just get away from all the hustle and bustle of the people. The beaches have become more crowded, fields filled by low level players trying to catch up.

The dock cities are filling up with people trying to head to other nations and Alne is full of raiders who all want a piece of the tower.

Out in this very field, as the sun starts to rise for the top of the sky, and the clouds roll across the blue, cool sky, Xander moves in the field.

    Each sword swing timed, each step sliding across the grass. Once he does finish one of his practice swings, he then goes to sheath his sword and close his eyes. "... You were off a step.." he rumbles to himself and only himself.

Xander slowly opens his eyes once more and looks up at the sky. "... and you are not focused..." he also says to himself alone. "You need to stop worrying about her." He tsks and lowers his head. "... all of them."

Open fields. Cloudy skies.

There is a certain melancholy that has trailed behind her for the last week, despite keeping herself busy. There is so much to do, and so much still to be done.

Instead, she finds herself slipping away again into the overworld. Into the open fields where none may trespass or know her wandering thoughts. There is always the Tower. She looks toward the titanic expanse, mentally checking off things to be done in preparation for joining the expedition later on in the day.

As such, she doesn't immediately notice Xander until they have gotten quite close. An ear flicks and she turns to regard him.

A soft smile.

"Ah. Good morning."

    Xander can hear her steps, but he almost misses them. His eyes look over toward Nureha, before he does fully. "Nureha." He says with a respectful bow of his head to her. "Good morning, soon will be afternoon based on the sun."

The Salamander turns to face her. "... How has your ranch been going? Any progress on that and..." He shifts his weight, "You been doing alright?" His tail slowly moves to side to side behind him as he tilts his head just slightly to the side. Studying her and watching her own movements.

"Still having difficulty finding someone with the proper skillset." Nureha says with a bright smile. "But while I'm waiting, I thought I might join one of the SEA excursions to the second floor. It's quite different than the rest of Aincrad Isle, so I thought I might take some notes about the monsters there."

She makes a 'wave off' gesture with one hand. "But how have you been doing, my dear? I haven't had a chance to catch up with you the last week or so. We've been cleaning up the headquarters and making it presentable again."

    "Scouting, patrolling, maybe making some enemies." Xander says to her, "You know the normal." He adds with a shrug. "I sadly am going to miss the push into the Second Floor, but I've heard about it. Desert. Hot. People will need to bring plenty of water and be ready to be beaten down on by the sun."

He shifts his weight slightly, "If you take any of your people with you. I'd suggest wear something thin and sheer. Probably keep a head wrap to help collect the sweat and maybe take a break from time to time under some shade-- if shade can be found."

Xander chuckles lightly, "But, I'm sure you guys maybe already know all this, however I do worry. There will be those who are not mentally ready for the endurance and stamina it is going to take."

    The Salamander raises a brow softly as she brings up their headquarters, "Oh? That is good to hear. I fear Scale Emblem can't seem to find anyone to do the cleaning." He laughs, "To many of us hack n' slashers, not enough crafters it seems all around."

Nureha listens and takes out the book from her inventory, writing down Xander's suggestions and asking a few perinent questions for clarification before tucking it away again.

"Well. We are fortunate in that regard." she says to the cleaning without explaining any further. " You might want to come to Ikegai at some point. We've been trying to encourage more crafting for just that reason, but I'm glad you have kept yourself busy." she taps her chin.

"Though I would suggest talking to a tailor I know. Gwen, I believe is there name. I think they would be willing to furnish you with an adequate backpack. I know you worry and you like to keep your hands free, but your ego isn't going to haul itself around."

    Xander chuckles and waves his hand, "Yeah yeah. I've met her. Massive lady and honestly she makes me nervous." He rubs the back of his neck. "And I don't know what ego you are talking about."

"Life did a pretty good job already destroying whatever upstanding hold I had on myself. Its, well, good at that." Xander's tail twitches gently. "More self-defense measures to make sure my own demons don't get in the way and accidentally murder someone. No one, after all, likes a loose cannon."

"Oh, I don't know. I think you are rather charming about it."

Nureha says with a playful tease. Her tail twitches to one side. "And if I had thought to, I would have brought further items and we could have had ourselves a picnic. Alas." she tilts her head to one side. "Words will have to suffice. So--" She plants herself down on the grass, drawing up her knees and laying her staff beside her.

A small flock of birds flutter up from bushes in the distance. "You said you were making friends. Anybody I know?"

    Xander watches her sit down and smirks at her playful comment, "How you flatter me so." He teases back with a gentle roll of his eyes before removing his shield and scabbard, resting them to the side as he sits.

"As for folks you know? Hard to say, I mean-- Is there anyone the /wise/ Nureha doesn't know?" He asks grinning at her, there was a playful tone there. "But yeah, I met several folks, though my concerns for now stay on a girl named Mikage. They apparently got to witness what happens when the hourglass hits zero."

"She is fine, but informed me to keep an eye out for someone, though in the mass of people out here, that is not an easy feat." Xander admits with a gentle shake of his head. "Trained Uta a little bit, need to track down another Salamander named Atif. Good kid, though last time we spoke my hackles got raised by a particular someone."

    "That particular /someone/ really grinds on me and I'm not sure why." Xander admits closes his eyes. "Maybe they remind me of one of my drill sergeants back at boot camp or some shit... or government types that deal with three letters." Xander tsk softly, "But then again. Not everyone can get along, that is just life for ya."

Nureha smiles along as Xander talks. She puts her hands in her lap.

"How is Uta's training coming? I'm glad she hasn't been swept up in the recent nonsense with some of the shadier aspects of our new living situation. That could have had... consequences." her smile isn't so friendly. "As for the rest. Believe me. I've had my share of interactions with people I'm disinclined to get along with."

    "I do sometimes wonder if I am one of them and you just grace me with your presence out of politeness." Xander admits as he leans back on his hands, "Can't blame you either. I am not exactly the friendliest or the most pleasant person to be around."

"Though who does get your hackles up, Nureha? Or is that confidential." Xander asks with a raised brow. "Given there is-- not much either one of us know about one another beyond what these avatars show."

"Another momentary lapse of your usually good judgement, then." Nureha says with a smirk. "But -- in this situation dear, I do believe equivalent exchange is warrented. As they say "You tell me yours and I'll do the same."

Nureha rolls her shoulders forwards and back, picking at the backs of her hands idly as patches of cloud are followed by brief moments of sun.

"Sometimes all one needs is a moment to vent."

    "I just said I couldn't blame you if you did, not that you honestly did." Xander says with a grin, before flopping down on his backside to stare up at the clouds.
Yeah. He trusted her and really by doing what he did, he was showing it and he looked fully relaxed as well. "What would you like to know then, Nureha?"

Nureha reaches up and grabs some of the nearby grass, the very little fine prickly bits at the tips of the grass, and sprinkles them liberally over Xander's face and nose in a full on sneeze assault.

"Tell me about this particular /someone/ you speak of."

    Suddenly there little bits of plant matter from Nureha and Xander pffts, as he gets up and brushes off his face. He does do a sneeze or two and just peers at her, "You know, for that," He 'blehs' a little as a few bits got in his mouth. "I shouldn't tell you anything."

Then the Salamander goes to give her a shove, "Kind of a dirty thing to do ya know." Though he is still grinning.

"I provided incentive, nothing more."

Nureha smirks, rolling with the shove to flop bonelessly across the grass. "Oh. Evil has been defeated this day." She grabs her staff and makes a slow and obvious bonk towards his shins with no intention to actually hit.

    Xander moves to avoid and then grabs her staff, attempting to push it and her arm to the ground, though in a playful manner as he tries to pin her. "Yes. Great evil. Horrible evil." The Salamander's tail twitches, before he raises a brow and then goes to let her go, moving off to the side.

"The individual's name is Proteus. An imp. Seems to be a seeker of intel, though for what gain, I have zero idea. Probably never will." Xander admits with a low rumble. "But they are good at getting under the skin. The type that I am sure if they knew about my real life history, would, more than likely, use it as a weapon."

"At least," Xander says softly, "How they come across. But I am almost sure to them-- I come across as an ass-hole who talks to much, likes the smell of my own shit, and probably needs to be chopped down a few feet."

Nureha is momentary pinned and pines for her sorry lot in dramatic mime before Xander moves off to the side. She sits in the grass with her knees up, tilting her head to the side. "Well. You know what they say. Self-knowledge is the first step to wisdom." though she says it in a teasing and not-serious manner. "As for Proteus?" she tsks in her throat. "..they may come across that way, but think of it like this. In your scenarios, do you not have training in using improvised weapons? Not all of us can be hacking and slashing sorts. Knowledge, too.. can be used to protect those things and people we love."

She makes another 'wave off' gesture. "At least you may have some common ground to tread. Unfortunately, the subject of my ire is less.. a personality conflict and more.. a visceral distaste."

With an arm flung over her eyes, she explains the little -- particulars of the guild Hamelin and their tactics. In particular, their most recent strategic conceit of emotionally manipulating newbie players like Uta and using them as disposable shields, their tombstones blocking in monster spawns and allowing each encounter to 'feed' the more powerful players. "We're still tracking down some of the leadership for a... chat, concerning their business practices."

    Xander listens to her explanation about Proteus. He raises a brow and hrms gently. "I don't disagree that knowledge is a weapon. It is perhaps the most dangerous weapon of all. The more you have, the more you can use. The more you can use-- the more material you have to hold against someone's head like a gun."

The Salamander sighs softly, "Which is probably the crux of the matter. I am very /aware/ of the dangers of information. After all, we had to protect information, along with keep out trouble makers from data breaching security and what have you, just so they couldn't /get/ information." He rubs his forehead softly then fights back a sneeze as he says, "So yeah... I just-- need to maybe relax. Or... try to relax." Xander hrms softly, ".. Not fall on training so much... which is hard to do." He rumbles gently.

    Though when hears about this group in more detail than what he read in the notices from his alliance. Xander's eyes narrow sharply. "You know... if you give me a point and location. I'll be glad to turn these officers into gravestones." He grins. It was a dangerous one. "Like, I will /gladly/ make them wish they never even /tried/ to pull this shit."

"I think I can bump you to the head of the queue, once things have been settled."

Nureha says with a faint smirk. She sits up from the grass, rubbing her face and tapping her cheeks gently with her hands. "But such things can be the focus of another day. You are quite correct. Sometimes.. it is simply better to relax."

    Xander nods his head gently, "Relaxing, taking a break, having a few laughs... That is--" His voice goes soft and distant as he looks off to the side. "... that is what... a few of my brothers and I use.. to.. do.."

The Salamander falls very quiet, his eyes looking at nothing as his brow knits, before he closes his eyes, gritting his teeth a little. There was a deep inhale that follows, before he goes to stand up. "A-anyways. I... I should probably get back to my patrols."

Xander then goes to walk over to get his shield and sword, he tries to smile. He tries to give her an actual warm smile at that; Even if his eyes are showing pain. "Thank you Nureha. It is always a pleasure to just chill with you."

Nureha eyes him, still and silent as she sat in the grass. She nods soberly, giving a small smile in return. "Always a pleasure, my dear."

She flops back down on the grass, turning to one side and curling up, there on the chill open plains. Her tail wraps around her and she appears to nap.

    Xander glances back over to her, as he watches her curl up. His nose twitches a little, before he furrows his brows. His eyes scan around. Then he goes to walk off toward the tree line.

Where he decides to go hang out in the trees to watch her snooze, but more importantly, to make sure no one attempts to attack her be they player or monster, while she relaxes.

Overwatch is fun!