A Night At The Pub

    It's a lovely, if chilly, evening out in Dun Loireag, a "gentle" breeze carrying chill temperatures and snow about the streets. Mid-February, the night before Valentines' Day. Inside, though, a warm fire crackles in the fireplace, while kotatsu warm the chilled feet of diners. Fortunately for anyone arriving, perhaps, it isn't too crowded, plenty of places to find a seat at a table or the bar, as one might prefer.

    In one corner, Miyako holds court, guitar in her lap as she sings, a soft, gentle tune.

        ~/ I have left the ground behind
        ~/ On windy whispers, I am climbing
        ~/ Past the spruce, and spindly pine
        ~/ Where winding water sings

        ~/ Mama moose, and grizzly bear
        ~/ With fin and feather, they do share
        ~/ That wild country lyin' there
        ~/ Beneath this red bird's wing

    On the wall behind her, a scene as if from a movie plays out, a woman with Miyako's face strapped into a crimson-winged hang-glider soaring above a mountainside.

    Mizuki walks in, appreciating the fireplace, listening to Miyako, turning...

    "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!" She points, then runs up to the wall, looking for the projector. "How are you doing this?! Playing video? Where's the video even COMING from?!"

Goldenblade emerges from the back. Seems she did get a room here, and is still here. She heads over to the bar, orders food and water, sits back in the chair. She smiles to Miyako, peering at the movie-like scene. "That's some impressive magic," she observes. Her food arrives, though considering her small gold supply, she's ordering the Lander food. She huhs at Mizuki, and looks at the video again. "It's magic, right? Isn't that what people do here?"

    Miyako continues playing along, a little smile touching her lips at Mizuki's outburst. On the 'screen', the glider-pilot looks out at the audience, and taps a finger to her lips. A speech bubble appears, echoing Goldenblade's answer. "Maaaaaagic."

        ~/ Flows of ice, and fields of snow
        ~/ Great granite ledges far below
        ~/ Though I am a climber in my soul
        ~/ In search of everything

        ~/ I am moving, flying free
        ~/ Yet oh so small as I've come to see
        ~/ That shining mountain over me
        ~/ And beneath this redbird's wing

    In the image, the glider turns and soars off towards the snowy upper reaches of the mountain, receding from view until half the size it was previously, the speech bubble quickly fading out.

    Mizuki siiighs. "Come on... Okay but I gotta know later." She takes a seat and tries to just listen, but she's clearly distracted from the music by constantly trying to figure it out.

Goldenblade sighs as she pushes back her meal half eaten, but then waves off the wairon who comes to take it away. "I'll finish it. It just takes a bit, okay?" She listens to the song, watches the show, such as it is.

    Miyako winks at Mizuki and nods, while she plays along an instrumental interlude, the image continuing on - fading from a third-person view to the pilot's perspective, as she looks down at the mountainside below. The image itself is more cartoonish than realistic, like something imagined rather than drawn from memory. Still, it makes for an impressive sight.

        ~/ Roll and tumble, dip and glide
        ~/ Tiny shadow on the mountainside
        ~/ Here, feelings have no place to hide
        ~/ Beneath this redbird's wing

        ~/ Here, feelings have no place to hide
        ~/ Beneath this redbird's wing

    As she repeats the last two lines, the perspective recedes again, the glider soaring off into the distance once more, performing a few aerobatics before receding until it is little more than a speck. The image fades away as the music stops, revealing only the simple wall of the inn behind it.

    "Welcome once again, friend. I hope your day goes well?"

Goldenblade applauds for a moment, she's not sure if that's the custom here or not. She forces down another bite of the vendor food and chases it with a big gulp of water. Saving money is hard.

    Mizuki is distracted until the image ends. She joins Goldenblade in applauding. "Ah, um... yeah, it's been fine. Just grinding today. Good to see you both again! Sorry for the outburst. It's amazing, though..."

    Miyako waves casually to Goldenblade, smiling a bit wider, seemingly pleased by the applause.

    "Mmm, yeah, I've been practicing. Music's been... pretty much the only thing that kept me sane, for a few years."

    Under her breath, she adds, "Assuming I qualify as sane anyway. that is."

    "I built it from a few of the basic illusion spells, you know, the distract-a-mobs."

Goldenblade nods slowly about illusion spells. That's as logical as anything in this magic world. "That's pretty clever," she observes. "I don't much know about making music, myself. All the songs I know need a band behind them, really. Not like modern songs. My kids listen to that, but I never really liked it much."

    Mizuki nods along, then awws. "Ninjas don't get any illusion magic... man, that'd be so cool." She looks to Goldenblade. "What do you mean by modern songs? Even most pop has a fair bit of instrumentation in it. Although making music and singing or playing are differeent skills, I mean... you can sing without knowing a lot of music theory and composition, and I imagine you can compose without knowing how to play or sing well... although a composer would probably want to learn at least SOME instrument to sound out the stuff they're working on... although I guess these days with computers and music trackers you can use the computer as your instrument..."

    Miyako chuckles softly. "Modern music, eh?" She shakes her head, deeply amused, stifling laughter. "Oh, that's a good one, Goldie, you -do- have a sense of humor under there."

    "Your fault for speccing a no-maj build, then, friend. I love it, myself." She quiets a minute while Mizuki exposits about the music-making process. "Enh, yeah, you -can- do it that way, but... computer has no /heart/. It can produce pleasant sound, but that doesn't necessarily make it /music/."

Goldenblade hehs to Mizuki, and explains, "The music I grew up with, a band had twenty or thirty people in it. Woodwinds, brass, strings, percussion. Glen Miller, Benny Goodman. That's the music I liked going dancing to. The music my kids listened to, only four or five, and it's all electric-this and electric-that."

    "I have magic! It's just, elemental and dark stuff." She frowns at the dissing of computer music. "What about the heart the composer put into it? Seems a little bit unfair to say that doesn't count..." She looks to Goldenblade. "Glen Miller? I've at least heard that name... Electronic can be fun, and is one of my personal favorites, but artists are always building on those who came before, being inspired and in turn inspiring the next generation. Have you heard any electro-swing?"

    "Ooooh. Someone who likes -good- music." Miyako grins. "Yeah, the big-band stuff was -great-. But we can't do that here, and even with the best illusion I can only manage one other instrument, -or- an image, not both." She hmphs softly. She'd -love- to have someone get together a band like that.

    "I'll admit I do like -some- rock, but I grew up with other stuff, too. We were folkies, in my family." She hmms for a moment. "Elemental and Dark, huh? You might be able to learn it, I use a lot of darkness-based stuff myself."

Goldenblade shakes her head to Mizuki, "Electro-swing? So it's swing music made electronically? I guess that'd be OK. Of course I ... well, I probably -can- dance, here. I haven't danced in /years/." She sighs a bit, forces down another bite of her dinner. "Never learned to play, myself. I guess I could try, but it'd take years before I could play in a band, and that's presuming someone could make a clarinet or a trumpet." She chuckles as Miyako appreciates her musical taste.

The door opens to a weary looking girl. Attracted by the sound of music, she slips into what looks to be a gathering place. Good, a bit of warmth will be nice. An music, something she almost forgot about between all that happened. She's holding on to a binder in her arms, and shakes off her long hair as it got thrown around with the wind outside just a little. She sighs and smooths it back with her fingers as she goes to find a table quietly, looking over the place and the source of the music

    Mizuki's eyes shine with hope. Darkness might allow for illusions?? She shakes her head to Goldenblade. "No, Electro-swing is... well, it IS made electronically, but that's not what makes it electro-swing. It's that it takes the instrumentation and musical style of swing but fuses it with the tools of more synth-focused music like glitch. Sampling and repetition -- sort of like a record skipping used on purpose -- applying filtering and effects, maybe some more modern percussion... It fuses the old and the new into a distinct style."

    She sees someone come in and waves. "Hey Reika! How's it going? We're talking about music, do you do any singing as an idol?"

    Sitting in her corner and occasionally fingering the strings of her guitar, Miyako isn't singing right this minute, she'd just finished a song a minute or so ago, though. "Electro-swing, huh... sounds like... I dunno..." She shrugs and plays a quick chord progression, major dipping down into minor and back up. "I wouldn't know the slightest where to start teaching someone a clarinet... Dad played sax, but he ... isn't here." She shakes her head and looks over to the new person. "C'mon in, have a drink, feel up to a song?"

Goldenblade ohs as Mizuki explains electro-swing, and after hearing her out, says, "I think I'll stay with Glen Miller, thanks. My wife and I would dance all night. In The Mood was our song." She sighs wistfully, nodding a greeting to Reika as she enters. To Miyako, she admits, "I haven't the foggiest idea how to play anything, either. I've seen it on TV, but it looked pretty involved."

Reika puts her binder down on the table, and blows on her hands a bit to warm them up. She smiles to Mizuki's question, nodding "Of course, I had a single before we got thrown into this game after all, and several commercials." It was building up to be a popular song too, who knows what happened to it now. "Music is always in the corner of my mind... even when it's full of... many other things."

    Mizuki hmms. at the discussion of teaching music. "I can pass on some singing tips, but I can't tell you how to have a good ear and repeat notes right in the first place."

    Then she hmms at Goldenblade. "Maybe if you hum a few bars, I'd recognize Glenn Miller?"

    She blinks at Reika. "You did actual showbiz? I thought you meant you were a Nero Idol! Cool. Maybe the group of us should form a band or something?"

    ~/ I could have danced all night, I could have danced all night
    ~/ And still have begged for more
    ~/ I could have spread my wings, and done a thousand things
    ~/ I'd never done before...

    Miyako grins and winks at Goldenblade. "And if I could remember the rest of that one... well." She shrugs. "Still. We do what we can with what we have. And we have an Idol!" She grins and waves to Reika. "Welcome, welcome. Care to sing something with us?"

Goldenblade loves the music, but could not hold a tune in a bucket. "Doo doo doo, dooot de do dooo," she attempts, but there's no way to get the notes, or even the rhythm from her. She peers at Reika, and nods, "We're on about singing, and entertainment." She grins and gives Miyako a thumbs up. "Yep. We do what we can," she agrees.

Reika giggles softly at Mizuki's questions "Oh no, I absolutely was a Nero Idol, it was part of my work though to sing and promote the new network, they needed people like me who could touch the masses through various means. I did some singing, but also some gravure work, and some modeling for some clothes." She stands up, keeping the binder within reach though, it seems important to her, as she walks over to the stage. "What song then?"

    Mizuki shakes her head sadly at Goldenblade. She can tell the poor girl is tuneless. Although after that last sentence, she sing-songs, "We do what we can, because, we must."

    She stands back up and gets into it. "For the goooood of alll of us, except the ones still outside! Look at me still moping when there's music to sing, let our voices be hea-eard like a bell does ring! And it can't go wrong, if you make a neat song, for the people who are, trapped in here!"

    She shrugs. "Eh, improvising is hard. But I'm down for singing!"

    Miyako nods to Goldenblade with a warm smile. "There's always a place for people who love to dance, as well," she offers. "As for what song to sing now... hmm." She pauses for a moment, then starts picking out the introductory chords of 'Cruel Angel's Thesis'.

Goldenblade hrms to Reika and wonders, "What's a Nero Idol? Do you fiddle while Rome burns?" she asks, puzzled. She smiles as Mizuki gives us a quick improv, and says, "That wasn't bad. Anything you can dance to is probably okay, come to think of it." She nods to Miyako, "I think I'd be better with the dancing ... but know, I haven't danced in years, and I don't really know the girl's part in any event."

    Mizuki starts singing along with Miyako, "Zaaaa-nnnnn kokuuuu, I forget the rest of the words, sorry! Gomen, it's in japanese! You'd have to teach me first but I'm sure I'll pick it up."

    And ear turns towards Goldenblade as she speaks. /Knew it/. She's got Miyako pegged as statistically more likely to be a guy, too.

    The catgirl turns to Goldenblade. "Eh, this isn't some ballroom dancing tournament or something, I don't think we need to care all that much about who dances which parts. I think she more meant the less formal, improvised, move your body kinda dancing, unless there's an official dance to Cruel Angel's Thesis that I haven't seen. If we want an anime opening with a dance I guess we could do Hare Hare Yukai or Motteke Serafukuu or something, but honestly it's been so long I don't remember how the dances go..."

Reika shakes her head at Goldenblade "No, Nero is the company that created this new network, and advertised it as the most secure and safe internet yet, after the black out of 10 years ago. They scouted new talents to fill up the needs of the new wave of media, I was part of them. There's a few other Idols around as well." She hmms, looking over to Mizuki as she sings "Well that's an amusing one, I'm sure I heard it with different lyrics." She smiles as she listens to the few first notes, recognizing the song, and she brings her soft voice out to meet the notes.

    /o~Like an angel with cruel and merciless intent, go forth, young boy, and you'll become a legend~

/o~In time, this blue of the sky, Will reach out to knock on the door to your heart, You're looking at me, Make it all you see~

    "A few others, like, in here with us, around?" Miyako grins and keeps playing, as long as Reika will continue singing that song, at least. "And as for dancing, yeah! Just get up and move to the music! Let the rhythm guide you!"

Goldenblade shrugs to Mizuki about ballroom anime dancing, and says, "My gransdon linked me to a show about competitive ballroom dancers once, it was interesting. They danced to the older songs, and my wife and I quite liked it. I can't recall the name just now, unfortunately." She listens to Reika, nodding as she explains about the media, which of course she has zero knowledge of. The singing draws a thoughtful hrm, but Miyako's exhortation to dance, she doesn't quite go with that. It's not really her style.

    Mizuki listens to Reika raptly. It is SO WEIRD to hear that song and just... KNOW the meaning of the words like that. She waits for Reika to finish.

Reika keeps going for a little longer, since the keeps is still playing. She never looks happier than when she can sing, it really is something dear to her it seems.

    /o~Content and we're merely smiling

    /o~Once more, the touch you long for
    /o~Consumes you in yearning to find that embrace
    /o~You're unaware though
    /o~Now to what fate will sow
    /o~Temptation implores you to know

    Mizuki starts rocking back and forth to the music. It's just neat to hear this familiar song and actually understand it!

    Miyako keeps on playing, a light and pleasant smile on her lips. She nods at Mizuki and Goldenblade -- not minding at all that one declines to dance. 'You do you' is kind of her motto, after all.

Goldenblade is not familiar with the song, but she's happy to go along with things. Reika seems happy enough, and the rest of us just watching is okay. She's okay with just wathing, too, for that matter. She smiles to Miyako, and says, "If they get to In The Mood, maybe I'll get going..."

Reika giggles softly as she bring it to a stop, since it goes on for quite a while like this, not wanting to steal the show from everyone either "There are many ways to express yourself. Music, dancing, art, writing, commerce, you just find the path that makes you happy."

    @emit
    Mizuki hops back up from her seat. "Well, that reminds me of one song that Goldenblade here probably knows, huh?" She takes a deep breath...

    "Fly me to the moon, and let me play among the stars, let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars! In other words, hold my hand... In other words, baby kiss me..."

    She positively beams and continues through the second verse, ending it after.

Goldenblade nods to Reika about ways to express oneself. "I guess making things is mine, though I'm not as good at it as all that. I think I am, it's on my list of skills. So far, I haven't really had much luck with any of it, though I keep trying." And when Mizuki sings, "Fly Me to the Moon, she does laugh, and will stand up, doing a solo sort of ballroom dancing, because she does like that song.

    Mizuki smiles a little brighter at having found a song Goldenblade can enjoy. She bows after.

    "Twenty different covers?? ...I can believe it." Mizuki smiles. "Oh man, music. There may not be any computers in here, but there's music!"

    She hmmms at Goldenblade, "What 'making things' skills are on your list?"

Reika smiles as she listens, but sits back down "I have my own song that I know by heart myself, my single of course. I always have others in mind, I had to learn many to please the fans, but I always loved to sing on my own. I just never thought I'd become an idol one day..." She looks down and more somber after that though "But being an idol doesn't mean much here..."

The entrance door to the Isekai Ryokan opens letting in a brief moment of the chill air as Shaskur quickly enters and closes the door behind her. Letting down her facemask and rubbing her hands together to warm them she looks around at those already in the restaurant. Spotting a couple faces she recognizes she grins. Removing her boots she waves away one of the attendants offering to take them, and instead she stores them in her inventory.

Wondering over to the group making music Shaskur raises her hand in greeting, "Yo Mizuki. Been awhile since we had to deal with slimes, how's it going?" She then gives a slight head bow to the others in greeting. "Uh, hi. I'm Shaskur."

As she looks over the others her eyes pause on Reika a moment before she blurts, "Wow, you look just like Reika. She is pretty good, but you most really like her to make your look so similar."

Reika looks up, forgetting her momentary dark cloud for now as someone mentions and names her "Uhm, that's because that's me. I'm Kamiya Reika." She even has the INSPECT to boot, although it doesn't mean much online I suppose. And Shaskur missed her singing as well, that might have helped her cause.

    Miyako's fingers still the strings as Reika takes a seat. "Oh, I don't know," she muses. "Being an -idol- may not mean much, but being a singer and an entertainer can. If nothing else, it helps keep morale up. You may not be out there learning the secrets of the world, or up in Aincrad killing floor bosses, but you're making life easier for the rest of us who do."

    She lifts a hand to wave to Shaskur as the imp enters. "Yeah, she does, doesn't she?" She grins.

    Miyako's fingers still the strings as Reika takes a seat. "Oh, I don't know," she muses. "Being an -idol- may not mean much, but being a singer and an entertainer can. If nothing else, it helps keep morale up. You may not be out there learning the secrets of the world, or up in Aincrad killing floor bosses, but you're making life easier for the rest of us who do."

    She lifts a hand to wave to Shaskur as the imp enters. "Yeah, she does, doesn't she?" She grins, then looks over to Goldenblade. "Sounds like a lot of important skills, then. Talk to Shiroe, he can put you in touch with people you can really help with that. I know there's a fellow who's been working on that kind of thing."

    "Nothing to be sorry for! I'm glad I could make you feel like dancing." Mizuki hmms at Goldenblade's list. "That's a lot of craft skills! And I'm sure even bricklaying will be useful. Some people are going to want homes now that they're stuck here. Some people are going to set up new businesses like this place."

    To Reika: "Your own song? Do you want to sing it for us? And it's just as she says, people need entertainment, especially in times of stress!"

    Shaskur enters. "Hello again! Things are going well, I'm making new friends!" She simply nods along with Reika's assertion that she is herself.

Shaskur tilts her head slightly at Reika's reply, and then her eyes slightly unfocus above the idol's head as she uses inspect on her. Frowning slightly she looks at Reika directly again, "Uh, I see your name is Kamiya Reika." She pauses for a moment as she considers and narrows her eyes slightly, "You are THE Kamiya Reika?" Shaskur then looks around at the others to see if they believe this and Mizuki is nodding as if to confirm it is true.

Shaskur just blinks a few times as she looks at Reika again, looking a little confused and mouth just slightly open like she is either stunned, questioning if it is really true, and generally not sure what to say.

Reika looks over to Mizuki, nodding "Of course, I love that song too." She chose it for herself out of those that were offered to her at the time after all. She closes her eyes, taking a breath. If that doesn't convince Shaskur, what would?


/o~Think of days with no hope so alone in the dark I cried so many tears
    /o~Now I know now I know the page was turning chapter one in my book of love

    But you came and you showed me that dreams can come true
    /o~I want you to know my heart glows from your touch
    /o~In your arms all my pain inside washes right through
    /o~Together we'll find the way

    /o~I believe your love I believe in our love
    /o~No matter what I know our aim is true
    /o~Every step we take our love will grow stronger
    /o~I wish that two hearts could be one

Goldenblade nods to Miyako, "I'm helping someone now with that, so we're working forward with some metal smithing business, trying to work out new alloys, I think. I'm doing some mining for him, he said it really moved the project forward." She smiles to Mizuki, and resumes her seat, taking another bite of her supper, which is now cold and gray-flavored rather than just gray. Meh. She peers at Shaskur, but doesn't seem to understand what he's on about. She falls silent sa Reika sings...

Goldenblade nods to Miyako, "I'm helping someone now with that, so we're working forward with some metal smithing business, trying to work out new alloys, I think. I'm doing some mining for him, he said it really moved the project forward." She smiles to Mizuki, and resumes her seat, taking another bite of her supper, which is now cold and gray-flavored rather than just gray. Meh. She peers at Shaskur, but doesn't seem to understand what she's on about. She falls silent as Reika sings...

    Sitting in her corner with her guitar, Miyako plays along again as Reika sings, smiling lightly as she enjoys the music. "Yeah," she muses, "We're going to basically have to fill all the usual economic niches. Build a whole society, sort of, alongside the Landers." She hmms softly. "Sounds like you've got a good start," she comments to Goldenblade.

As Reika starts to sing her eyes grow slightly wider. Mouth still slightly ajar she looks at the others again while she points a finger at Reika. Miyako's accompaniment only adds to effect of Reika's singing. Finally as the song comes to a close Shaskur gathers her composure again, or at least tries to. "Uh, it's nice to meet you Reika. I used to listen to you.. er, before." She pauses a moment, "I never knew you played ETO."

    Mizuki claps after Reika's song and is left humming catchy parts. She nods to Miyako. "I'm a thief, so... singing would be a much better option than turning to a life of crime!"

Reika stops her song after a few more verses, bowing to Miyako in thanks for the music that goes with her singing. She nods to Shaskur "I didn't really... It was part of the promotion you see, they asked me to go in game, mingle with fans and what not. I was also asked to be there for the countdown... when all this happened. So uhm... I kinda had to learn how to play suddenly... especially after dying..." She was the first PC death, which isn't too good to put on a resume.

Goldenblade nods to Miyako, and says, "I hope so. I don't really understand entirely how any of this works, but I figure I've struggled in the shadows alone long enough. I can struggle in the light in front of everyone just as easily, and maybe this way someone can help me muddle along. I think I'm starting to get a feel for things, even. Starting." She peers at Mizuki, wondering about the life of crime thing, and ohs at Reika. So, someone as non-game-savvy as her. At least originally. "How -did- you learn how to play quickly?" she wonders. "Only I think I need to do that, too."

"Whoa, you've actually died? I heard people respawn, but I haven't died yet myself. What's it like?" As Reika considers the question Shaskur also asks the others, "You guys are friends of Reika's?" Then turning to look over at Miyako, "Or were you in one of the bands that went along with her?"

Reika nods at the questions "It was during the fireworks, things went weird in Ezzo, it's like a giant glitch hit the town and made monsters just about invincible. We ran away, and a guardian's laser cut through me. I was put to sleep in a tombstone for 24 hours, and I woke up in church, as if it was just a long sleep. It's an odd feeling though... it uhm... kinda is traumatizing even..." She puffs a but, sliding fingers through her bangs "Which is why I had to get out of that guild..." she mostly says to herself on that last part. More like a reminder.

    As the subject turns to Reika learning the game, Mizuki stands up again to pat her on the back. "I told her some of the basics! After she respawned, we escorted her to Alne at night to get the news that we can respawn out there ASAP, so she got to watch and learn from us us dealing with all the monsters... including the gnoll encounters and boss that sometimes spawn there at night..."

    She looks at the others, then back to Reika. "I hope it was helpful, anyway... How's it been going since?"

    At Shaskur's question she shakes her head. "Not friends so much as just happened to be there when she respawned... but if she wants to be friends I'm happy to make another friend!"

    "I hear the game engine gives you some support if you have the Skill in-class," Miyako comments to Goldenblade, "But I've never actually seen it in practice. I mean, I could play before I started the game, much less before... all this." She shrugs. "I'm not sure how it'd work, really. Cooking is just a menu, and it comes out tasting like crap. Forging, the products at least /work/, but I hear doing it the real way is better."

    She looks briefly over to Reika, just as curious as Shaskur at the matter of what death and respawning was like under the new circumstances. "A band? Me? No... not here. Never actually met her properly before, to be honest."

    And as Reika recounts dying Mizuki's ears splay and tail droops as she listens awkwardly. It can't have been a pleasant experience.

Goldenblade hrms, nods at what Reika says, considering thoughtfully. "That's pretty scary," she observes. She remains quiet, listening silently.

Shaskur hums slightly in thought at the information about the respawn, "I suppose the actual dying would be pretty traumatic, but at least the rest is like sleep I guess? Do you dream even? Or is it like it's just black a moment and then suddenly you are awake again?"

As the others respond Shaskur nods to them, and gives Mizuki a bit of an extra smile as she mentions how she was there helping Reika off the start. And then as if remembering she turns and asks Reika another question, "Oh, do you lose any of your items when you die?"

Reika shakes her head "No, nothing really. And yes, it's just like a dreamless sleep, it's a bit disorienting even, you just wake up in a different place than where you remember being last, but the memories of the last moments are very clear too."

She hms, and shakes her head "I'm not advising anyone to dying just for fun though, it's not pleasant, even if you do come back..." She taps on her binder absentmindly. "So always fight seriously, this is a game and it's not at the same time."

    "It sounds scary as hell to me," Miyako chips in. "And yeah, it's a bad habit to get into, trusting the respawn. I mean... we get out of here, what do you do? If you're still in the habit of expecting to come back..." She trails off meaninfully, looking away, playing a sequence of minor chords.

Shaskur nods as Reika goes into further detail about dying, "Yeah, I don't think I'm going to die as any kind of test.." She then gives a toothy grin which displays her fangs, "Don't worry. I always fight seriously." Then Shaskur eyes the binder that Reika is tapping and the grin fades slightly while an eyebrow raises. "Do you also happen to draw?" She points at the binder, "We can trade tips if you do. I like doodling sometimes."

    Mizuki shivers at the thought of someone forgetting they can't respawn in real life. "I think it's not something to habitually get into, so much as... while we're here, we can consider a small risk of death acceptable even if it's riskier than in real life. Like... suppose we knew for sure that clearing the tower will get us out of here. If we only had one life, we'd need to be extraordinarily careful. It might delay the tower climb for years while we prepare because we only get one shot and people are risking their lives. But with the respawn... I don't think anyone should charge ahead recklessly, but if something needs to be done but there's some risk of dying we don't need to balk."

Goldenblade listens as Reika explains, and she shivers a bit. "I ... I guess it's better than dying for real, but it doesn't sound nice. Sounds kinda creepy, really." She nods about not a game, and says, "If we can't log out, it's kinda not a game at that point, right?" To Miyako, she says, "It's not a habit I want to get into, for sure." She peers at Mizuki, and says, "Something like that's past my skill level anyhow, so I don't guess I need to worry about it."

Shaskur turns to Mizuki as she mentions the tower, "I know some people want to keep the hope that the tower might mean something, but it kind of seems silly to me to think that anything we do here could actually make a difference to get out." She shrugs slightly, "I guess it's just my opinion, but how could anything in this game actually help fix the problem? Like it is probably something happened with the servers.. or something." She frowns sadly. "I think we just have to accept this is the way things are now.."

    Miyako hmms softly as the talk turns more towards the Tower, and the possibility of escape. She sighs, low and soft, turning away to look out the windows at the snowfall beyond. "In the end, I guess," she muses, "I think it's kind of a good thing. It gives the people who want to go back something to work towards. If they miss that life so much... then they deserve a chance, don't you think?"

    Mizuki sighs. "I did say if we knew for sure..." She sits back down. "Personally, I think there's lots going on we haven't seen yet and don't understand. By learning more about this world... if there's a way out we CAN find from in here, that's how we'll do it. And I simply don't know if the tower is or isn't... the big sky hologram guy may or may not have been on our side, we just don't know."

Reika nods as she listens "And that's why we should make it a place for everyone to be able to live in quietly, no matter what they choose to do with their time here. That we are getting out or not is irrelevant, since we don't know how long it might be, if at all." She slides the binder under her arm "Thank you for the time today, I need to do something as soon as I can." She looks a bit more resolute than when she entered at least, with some energy back in her features.

Goldenblade says to Miyako, "Yeah, those as want out, they ought to be able to get out. For me, well. I was pretty old, on the outside. I didn't get around very well at all. There's none of that, here, though I do seem to still have my stroke symptoms....but they were pretty minor, all things considered." She agrees with Mizuki, "I don't guess we'll figure out anything just by speculating here." She nods to Reika as well, and says, "Take care. I'm actually going to sleep now, too, I think." She will get off her barstool and head for the stairs.

Shaskur tilts her head in thought for a few moments after Miyako's question. "I guess people should do whatever they feel is best. Still.." She taps her lip in thought and looks up in the air as she does so but then Reika stands up and she looks a bit startled. "Oh, um, Reika." She quickly makes some gestures to send a friend invite. "It was nice chatting. Mind if I contact you again some time to ask more questions?"

Reika nods to Shaskur, and bows to everyone present elegantly "Of course, keep in touch." She waves a hand, bringing her menu up, and sends some friend requests to all presents. She didn't really make use of it before, but it seems she finds it to be more important now.

    Miyako nods quietly to Reika. "Thank you for singing with us, as well. It was good to meet you."

    She nods to Goldenblade and Shaskur as well. "People need to be able to _live_ their lives, not just survive. That's the key, I think. Otherwise... we may not like the people who come out of this."

Shaskur grins and waves to Reika as she leaves and then turns back to the conversation. "Yeah, I think we do have to adapt and learn to live here now. This is our world it seems." Then she looks over at Miyako, "Thanks for playing music for us while we chat. It seems like Lander's have very little music."

    Mizuki nods. "Surviving isn't living."

    She nods to Shaskur. "I know, right?! Only forty-two songs ever! Those poor people!" She remembers the waitstaff are here. "I mean, you guys just heard like five songs you've never heard before, right? Teach a lander bard to play Cruel Angel's Thesis, it'll mess with so many Adventurer's heads!"

    Miyako chuckles. "I dunno. I played a few pubs around here a couple of weeks ago, and they thought I was -weird- to have new music that they'd never heard before." She shrugs. "Some people... Ah, well."

Eye's widening slightly, "They thought new music was weird? Well, I guess it would be very different to what they are used to.." Turning to Mizuki nodding she looks like she is about to continue when Shaskur notices something outside the window and goes silent for a moment. She then turns to look at the others, "This has been nice, but I have to go." She makes a few gestures as she stands up to send friend invites. "I like to come to this place pretty often, it has the best food around. Hopefully I will see you again!" She lifts her facemask over her mouth and draws her hood as she looks out the window again. Then with a raised hand she says, "Sorry I really need to go. Later!"

    Miyako nods, and swipes her hand across the menu to put her guitar away. "I'm going to head up and grab a bath. Catch you all later."