Lunch and Learning

Kita and Goldenblade share a lunch, and a conversation about themselves and their lives.

Kita
Tolbana - Main Square

In the days since the Apocalypse, the first floor of the tower has gone through some significant changes. Even now, Tolbana seems to be a work in progress. It became a home to many Ezzo refugees, restored and reinforced by Scale Emblem. Even now, there are farms being built on the outskirts. New shops are being made around the main square.

Perhaps the most unusual of all is that one of the central fountains is covered by a large tarp, pieces of it sewn together to cover what must be a large statue of some sort. This has been Kita's life for over a month, rarely being seen anywhere else.

Now, though, the Imp sits in front of it, looking remarkably more herself than she has in weeks. She's showered, wearing her simple makeup, dressed in her usual gothic flare, and eating a sandwhich. Her previously manic behavior has been replaced with calm interest, lightly doodling in her sketchbook.
Goldenblade
Tolbana - Main Square

Goldenblade is, as is her wont, out questing today, though it's a bit ambitious to call it that when she's doing super low level quests that seem unlikely to generate loot or experience. But she's been questlooping regardless, and now she's here in the town, ready to break for lunch. Since it's about lunchtime, that seems appropriate.

Seeing Kita there eating a sandwich, she figures this is as good a spot as any and calls out, "Hello. Mind if I join you for lunch?" She stays out of the way of whatever she's drawing, standing to one side as she speaks with the Imp.
Kita
Tolbana - Main Square

"Oh. Hey." Kita offers up, looking up and then pushing her glasses up her nose. She and Goldenblade had crossed paths a time or two, mostly during quests or at floor bosses. "By all means." The Imp motions a hand towards an exposed part of the fountain where it should be fine to sit.

"It feels like I haven't had a proper meal in weeks." She admits, with a soft laugh. "My companion is pretty insistant that I eat regularly, since apparently I was skipping out on most meals." Kita smirks, seeming amused by the whole thing rather than bothered. "You aren't a crafter though, are you?" She asks. "So it's possible you won't experience the same thing."
Goldenblade
Tolbana - Main Square

Goldenblade will take a seat and squint at her menu for a moment before popping out some menu food. Cooking is a million times better, but it's a lot of work, and she doesn't always make time for it. Anyhow, bland food isn't bad, at least. She lived on nothing but before the discovery of cooking here. She smiles to Kita, remembering her vaguely, though with so much going on, she has a hard time keeping people straight. "I'm Goldenblade," she reintroduces herself, not sure if it's polite or what.

She quirks a brow at no proper meal for weeks, and wonders, "Been living off menu food for a while, too?" She ohs at the nod eating regularly, and says, "Yeah, I forget sometimes, too, but then I get ... notifications, I guess they are. Like stomach rumblings, is how I interpret them." She hrms, and says, "Well, technically, I -am- a crafter," she admits, "but I haven't done anything recently and I don't really understand how it all works..."
Kita
Tolbana - Main Square

"Kita Blackthorne. Black Mage, Artist, and Scribe for Scale Emblem Alliance." The young woman pauses then, giving a sort of soft laugh, "Though, I suppose I haven't done much of the later for a while. Hopefully I still have a job." She shrugs, seeming unconcerned. It isn't as if there aren't plenty of ways to make coin or contribute in the realm of Yamato.

"Not so much menu food or ignoring notifications." Kita looks upwards, towards the tarp covered statue. "Apparently, there is a status effect that can hit crafters. Uta called it 'Fey Mood'. I was seemingly under the effect for the last month or so. Didn't really eat or sleep much." Her hand touches the stone of the fountain's base. "This has been my obsession, but I seem to be on the other side of the effect."

Looking over at Goldenblade, she seems to consider the other woman, thoughtfully. "There isn't much to how it all works. Just build things as you would if you were physically doing it, and avoid the menu. But... be careful if you get into anything too intensive. You might have to lean on your friends to keep you from starving."
Goldenblade
Tolbana - Main Square

Goldenblade smiles to Kita, ahhhs about the Scale Emblem Alliance and all the titles. She smirks about still having a job, and agrees, "Plenty of ways to make coin, yeah. I don't have a job, per se, I guess," she admits, "but I do all right. And people here that I know all seem pretty understanding."

She hrms about the status effect thing, and says, "I guess I've been helping some others with crafting, peripherally, but not really doing anything, myself. I'd planned to, but I've already got my hands full with things." She smirks wryly. "Not crafting things, really, but kind of organizing, I guess."

She nods slowly as Kita describes crafting, and says, "I know how to do that with ... well, masonry here is as close as they get to bricklaying. I've been learning smithying, but I haven't tried anything yet for myself. But I guess I'll be careful if I begin a project."
Kita
Tolbana - Main Square

"It's my fault my companion got stuck here with me." Kita admits, though it doesn't seem to exactly be a secret. "So I've been trying to make enough to support us both. They're still trying to get used to playing an MMO. I imagine you know what that's like." The Imp smiles softly, then takes a bite of her sandwich.

"Though, they've probably been taking care of me more than the other way around as of late." She really did need to find a way of making that up to Jurou. It isn't as if she'd been the best partner this past month. "But it sounds as if you're at least keeping yourself busy with things that help the world." Her stormy blue eyes look up at the covered statue. "I just hope this hits the right mark with the people here on Tolbana. Still a couple of days before the big reveal..."

Her lip quirking, the Imp offers out, "I wouldn't be too concerned unless you start working on something /big/ or important. That seems to be some kind of trigger. Uta said it is... resonating with the world song, or something like that. She probably understands this /way/ better than I do."
Goldenblade
Tolbana - Main Square

Goldenblade hrms about companions being stuck here with, and says, "I just met another couple last night, it seems to be a not-uncommon thing, people getting stuck here together. I suppose it's better than being separated, though." Her tone is wistful for a moment, but she covers it with a drink from a waterskin.

She nods about keeping herself busy, and agrees, "I've definitely been doing that. One of my projects -is- kind of large in scope," she admits. "I'll try to be on the lookout, then, for any behavioral swings." She offers a weak shrug, "Maybe I'm just not resonating?"
Kita
Tolbana - Main Square

"Definitely." Kita confirms, "I don't know what I would have done if I were stuck here, without any way to get back to them." A shadow of pain seems to wash over her features. It's enough to suggest that she understands what that sort of separation is like, and just how hard it could be. "I still want to get them home, but I'll take being here with them over the alternative."

Her eyes seem to take in that wistfulness, "You have family on the other side?" She asks softly.

Kita reaches for her sketchbook, drawing it into her lap. For the first time in ages, it isn't a sketch of the statue on the page. Instead, it looks to be a drawing of a female Salamander. It is, perhaps, a sign that her mind is recovering from the strange status effect. "Other people will probably notice the change before you do. I guess, I didn't really have a sense that I was letting things get that bad."
Goldenblade
Tolbana - Main Square

Goldenblade chuckles about being stuck here, and admits, "I think it's different for some people. I'm by myself here, yeah," she says, "but my wife just passed, and my son ... well, he suggested I come here, and then I could see him and his kids without having to go all the way to his house whenever I wanted to visit, because travelling so far is hard on me and complicated for them. But they've all got their own lives. My grandson's staring college, and they were going to meet me, but we all got locked in, and they never got the chance to log in before finding out it was a ... well, a trap, I guess."

She peers at the sketchbook, then hrms about the status effect. "Well, I've got people involved in the project, so hopefully that will help." She peers at the tarp, smiles, and says, "I'm sure it will be very well received. The Landers, in general, seem to be favorably disposed to adventurers."
Kita
Tolbana - Main Square

It's possibly at that moment that Kita realizes just how much age difference there is between herself and Goldenblade. There is a slight widening of her eyes, but she seems to keep her reaction somewhat controlled. "I'm sorry to hear that. I've only been with my companion for about four years now, so it's hard to imagine an entire lifetime with someone."

There are things in what Goldenblade says that stand out to her, though. Things that are impossibilities for her and her partner in the real world. Marriage, family... Japan still restricted those sort of things for people like her. "At least they're still out there. I bet they miss you." She offers more softly, "I miss my parents."

After a pause, Kita adds, "Jurou's parents probably blame me for all of this. They never liked me much in the first place."

Then, trying to shift the topic, she asks, "So what's your big project?"
Goldenblade
Tolbana - Main Square

Goldenblade has gotten used to everyone being so much younger than her by now. Well, that's just like real life, as far as that goes. The difference is it's not apparent to people that she's seventy five. She bows her head at your condolences, and nods, "It was a good time together. Just over fifty years." She nods about missing her parents, too, though she'd lost them years previously. She does nod about her kids missing her, and agrees, "I'm sure they do. I imagine they're the ones that ... well, I imagine they got me put into a hospital on life support, or I wouldn't be alive and talking to you, would I?" She winces at your lover's parents blaming you, and says, "That's rough."

As to her project, she explains, "It's something like a big school, styled after the military academies from the 1800's. For players as well as Landers, is my vision. They don't have formal schools, themselves, as far as I could tell, and players could teach each other various techniques so we're all learning from each other."
Kita
Tolbana - Main Square

"I imagine we're all on some sort of life support somewhere." It's hard to imagine what the state of things is like in the real world. "Jurou's family is pretty rich. High level business people. My mom works at a daycare center and my dad is a mechanic." Which puts the two on very opposite ends of the social ladder. "I was always the delinquent, stealing their perfect kid away." Kita smirks at that, "They always figured it wouldn't last. But we stayed together, even after Jurou went to the United States for school."

She leans forward a little bit, seeming genuinely interested in the other woman's project. "A school? That sounds like a really fascinating idea. I mean, there's probably lots of people who could use it." With her lunch all but finished, it seems the young woman is mostly just enjoying the social aspects of learning about someone else. "Do you think there will be courses on fighting? I'm usually a back line spellcaster when I fight, but... seems that most bosses ignore aggro tables. And I can't defend myself as well as a fighter."
Goldenblade
Tolbana - Main Square

Goldenblade nods about the life support, and ohs as you reveal the social standing differences. She observes, "That's unusual, for people so distant in status to connect. Japan's often very strict on social levels, I've seen. You two must have a very strong bond, then." She smiles again.

She nods about people benefitting from the school, and about having courses in fighting, and says, "Yeah, someone explained once what the aggro thing was, but I don't think I've seen the effect, myself, and it may not be in the game anymore. It seems there have been a lot of changes in the game recently that not everyone is up to speed with. I'm just taking things as they come, myself, with no preconceived notions. I have a couple ideas for new techniques that I hope I can figure out myself, then teach to others. That will help everyone, I think."
Kita
Tolbana - Main Square

"We met in high school." Kita explains, "The track star class president, who took an interest in the wayward artist who got transferred in from another school." It sounds like a slice of life anime story, really. She smiles, though the expression has a hint of sadness to it. "But yeah, we're pretty close."

Kita leaves it at that, focusing on the idea of the school, instead. "I only played casually prior to the expansion. Used it as a way of trying out certain artistic techniques, like sculpting or painting without having to buy actual proper materials." Which could be quite expensive in the real world. "I don't actually like real fighting. It... scares me." She admits, then shrugs in an absent sort of way, as if dismissing that.

"Managed to get through two boss fights, but... tangled with those undead up north and I just couldn't deal with it. Maybe that's part of why I ended up tossing myself so fully into my art afterwards." She doesn't sound so sure that the two are connected. "Maybe I'll have to check your academy out, when it's built. See if anyone can help me with that."
Goldenblade
Tolbana - Main Square

Goldenblade smiles about meeting in high school. "That's sweet. That's where my son met his wife. I wish you two happiness together." She nods about playing casually, and ohs about trying out artistic techniques. "I'd never thought of that," she admits. "That seems like a really good idea."

As to the actual fighting, GB winks and says, "You should be more confident. The worst that happens to you is you get banged around a bit and have to back down." She's lived a very hard-knocks sort of life, it seems, and is pretty casual about taking abuse. "But I'm sure we can help you gain confidence. I grew up with a girl who was terrified of riding a bicycle. She'd fallen once and never wanted to again. She didn't even get hurt by it, apart from a tiny scrape. But she'd just watch us riding around the neighborhood, with a sort of wistful expression. I was five at the time, so I didn't have any idea how to help her. I never did find out if she finally learned, or if she never did, we'd moved a couple years later."

"So, I'm sure we can give you more confidence in yourself, and in joining the fray. From what I'm told, the way out is through the Tower."
Kita
Tolbana - Main Square

"Thanks." Kita offers, though something in her tone suggests a wariness there. Afterall, many people in Goldenblade's age group are the reason that people like Kita and her partner cannot get married in Japan. Not that she brings this fact to light, though.

"I've never been the confident one. That's more Jurou's thing." She laughs to herself, brushing a few strands of white hair away from her forehead. "I've been thinking about asking Xander about it. I know he has real world experience with battle." Again, she seems to hestiate, as if realizing that sharing more about the man wouldn't be prudent.

"But you're right. So far, the only thing we know is that the way out has to do with the tower. If I got Jurou into this mess, I'm sure as hell getting them out of it if I can." Her eyes look upward, even if the graphics of Aincrad mostly make the area look like sky. There is still a spire there, reaching upward, towards the higher levels of the tower.
Goldenblade
Tolbana - Main Square

Goldenblade is used to people her player's age not being onboard with what amounts to new ideas. But she's not bothered, herself, what others in her age group think is not something that drives her opinions. That is a bit of an American outlook, perhaps, but she was raised American. Though a lot of Americans her age have issues with that, she guesses. Strange for them to be so independent-minded on so many things, then to circle the wagons on that one niche issue. But thats their problem, not hers.

She nods about Xander, and says, "He's very capable, that I've seen. He beat me in the first round of the tournament, he's definitely stronger than I am. I learned from it, though." She follows your glance upwards, and nods. "We'll get out, sooner or later."
Kita
Tolbana - Main Square

With her meal finished, Kita begins to pack up the little container which looks to be like a hand-crafted bento box. It's tied off with a bit of cloth. The sketchbook is neatly stowed into her inventory with a few swipes of her delicate fingers, followed by the bento box. "I hope so. Though, I wonder if it will be too late for some people." Her brows furrow, then.

"Jurou was competative in track and field. But with how much time has already passed, I worry that even if we got back now, that door might be shut on that future." Losing months worth of training time, not to mention the muscle tone that is bound to be lost with it, seems likely to lead to the end of that kind of career. "Luckily, coming from a rich family means that there are other options." Strange how she doesn't speak about her own future.

Getting to her feet, Kita nods to herself. "Something to work on, either way. Thank you for having lunch with me. I should probably get back to headquarters. Figure out what they need me to do, and work on getting this unveiled to the public."
Goldenblade
Tolbana - Main Square

Goldenblade's own lunch is done, and disposed of with a few menu presses. Which she finds more complicated than it ought to be, but manages after a bit of squinting at her menus. "I hope it's not too late for most people," she agrees. She nods about the track and field conditioning fading, and says, "On the other hand, astronauts spend a year in zero G, and get back into pretty good shape soon enough after coming back to earth, so it might be that she can train back up into competitive shape."

She nods, "Something to work on. But don't give up hope!" She smiles, rising herself, and says, "back to questing, for me. Take care!"