James Shakehard, again, was in his bed, staring at the fan connected to the ceiling. It was quite boring, but it felt like he was watching flower pedals spin around over and over. He smiled lightly as he watched it. Soon enough, he felt dizzy from looking at the fan and got up, taking his place at the window. He opened it, took the next cover off, and crawled onto the roof, finding himself sitting down and looking into the cold night air. The stars twinkled in the night and he felt like they were lulling him to a deep sleep. His eyes drooped a bit, but he was okay in the end.
James looked at the other neighbors’ houses as lights flicked off and kids were tucked in. Some were staying up to read a nice book and others were just going off to sleep. He, for one, didn’t want to sleep. It was like any other night. He never wanted to sleep at all and he sometimes never slept for a day or so. He often fell asleep in spelling class. The teacher was boring and lame and she never gave homework to them. In other classes, some were strict and got pissed when you fell asleep or didn’t study, but in others, they were nice, they didn’t give you homework, and they were actually interesting. Others were just…too boring.
James yawned and stared up, again seeing the constellation of Orion. Then there was the king and queen (the names escaped him at the moment). He had remember learning all about them and studying them all the time in Middle School, but sometimes, easy stuff just left his mind and went into another’s. He sighed and looked at the gutter. A single Tootsie Roll was in there, lying on its side with the words imprinted on it. It was the big kind too.
James picked it up and looked it over. It looked pretty okay to him. After another second, he unwrapped it and popped it into his mouth, chewing it and thinking about what to do for the night. He had Friday off, so he might as well stay up late and have fun with the night. He swallowed the chocolate candy and crumbled the wrapped and tore it into shreds before tossing it into the trash from his place near the window. For one thing, he didn’t liter. Another thing was that he didn’t smoke. He was a good kid, but he just didn’t look like it. He was fine with that, but it proved that you couldn’t judge a person by his looks.
James finally got too cold from the night and headed inside, closing the window and cover behind him. His bedroom light was still on and he had a bit of candy left over after he had passed out and done a little trick-or-treating with some of his friends. It was his last year, but still, they got loads upon loads of candy; maybe ten to fifteen pounds of candy. Some kids went on bikes and rode around multiple neighborhoods. Now that was a way to get LOADS of candy.
James took a Milky Way, unwrapped it, popped it into his mouth, then gave a restriction on eating candy at night, due that he got a sugar rush when he ate too much sugar. James threw it away and fell into his chair, looking at the computer screen to notice that there was yet another ad on ‘The World’. He had the stupid game for peat’s sake!
He closed it with a grumble that had “Stupid ads” and “Stupid people” in it. He looked at the computer screen and saw that he had just one new e-mail.
James looked at it and saw it was from one of his friends at school. He clicked on it and read it over. It was all about how he had been chewing gum and she had flung a piece of chalk at him for eating gum so repetitively. He had to spit out his gum and confiscate all the gum in his locker. He probably had a LOT of gum in his locker and that was why he was so pissed off, but all James put in reply was this.
To: John
From: James
Message: :P
James clicked the response button and smiled at his own message. Then, looking at his computer screen once again, he saw ‘The World’ icon flashing at him. He frowned. That game was so addicting, yet he didn’t want to go and play it again. He sighed. Well, he was going to and he didn’t care if he got addicted and got to be a fat person with no life. He knew it wasn’t possible, so he started the game up and started typing in his username and password.
Username: Shenmock
Password: *******
“Welcome to ‘The World’, Shenmock,” the computer chimed. He smiled and before he went in, he chose a different root town. Dun Lioreag. He wanted to find a strong partner to help him with questing and he planned to find one no matter what. So what if he was low for that area? He would have a high level partner with him. Just like him and Senna. Only the area would be a bit higher in level.
The golden rings descended, materializing the Long Arm known as Shenmock into the area of Dun Lioeag. He smiled at the area. It was like he was standing on pillars with bridges all around. There wasn’t much of a crowd here, but there were still players walking around. None of them seemed to notice him. Most seemed to continue along and do their business: trading, leaving to fields, and lots more.
A small mist seemed to shroud around the area at night, but you could still see the bright stars and nice scenery. He smiled and walked to the first bridge, walking across it and coming to another plateau. A few players were walking around this one. One group was on the other side and Shenmock decided to reside here to ask around. He wouldn’t dare ask the group in the other direction, but maybe asking people who were alone.
The first person who came along was a well-fit Twin Blade. He was about to open his mouth when the player said the simple words. “No,” he said before walking on. Shenmock frowned. This could take a while.
Another person came along. “How would you like to go-“ Shenmock was cut off as the Heavy Axeman walked away without even a glance back. “Well…that was pretty rude,” Shenmock said with a dull expression.
Shenmock asked numerous other players before taking a seat on a bench. “This is hopeless,” he muttered before looking out at the Theta Server city.
(OOC: It seems I need word on my computer again.;;)
Breath. Breath. BREATH. Ryok sat up straight, his gasps of air lacking the amount of oxygen needed for his mind to think straight. Blinking over and over random colors distorted the area around him. Coughing he doubled on to his side, arms wrapped around his torso. A dull moan escaped his mouth inbetween, gasps of air. Then a slight chuckle.. As his cracked lips formed an evil smile. Slowly, he regained control of the frequent spazzums that plagued his lungs. A quiet breeze blew over, the grass brushing against outstretched arms. On his back he sighed not knowing who or where or what. Only that he needed to know these things to survive. Another cool breeze.. The clouds over head blotched out the stars as they streamed across the darkened sky.
Is this a dream? No, its real, right? What happened again? My room.. And then that noise. And then I was here.. Here, where is here? A game right, I forgot this is all got to be some insane trick, or maybe I've just lost it and im sitting in my own fantasy, in some room with a white jacket wrapped around me. No..
The abyssal breeze washed over the pillar he sat on. His hand rose and blocked his numbed face. Sitting up again he looked across the gap onto the bustling life of the misty city. He cracked another smirk and blinked slowly.. Clearing his throat he spoke.
"It's been a while." Eyeing his blade he reached for it. Fingers wrapped around its length he felt its power flow through his body. A blade worthy of a god. The power pulsed through his veins, up, straight to his head. He shook off the feeling. A blade so powerful that if he let its being become him he wouldn't be able to come back to this place. It was a scary thought, but he didn't let it bother him much. A second later he was crossing the bridge towards the back of one of the shops. His private pillar stood away from the rest of the town connected by a single bridge, that no one ever seemed to pay attention too. He never really bothered to find out why that was or try to show someone else its quasi-hidden place behind the shop. Comming to the front of the shop he stopped. Leaning against the side of the building he watched the crowd move through the town. Almost as if it was a dance every third or fourth player would skew from his or her group and come to the shop while they all waited for their companion. None of them so much as glacing at him, not realizing that he wasn't just another player. This place, was so much different to him then to them. They'd never realize that though, no to ignorant to even fathom it.
He didn't mind that though, he just realized. Apparently he was used to sitting in this lonely place with nothing to do but fight and fight. Hoping maybe one day he'd be free of his imprisonment. Sighing he fell on to the grass patch under him. He continued to watch the crowd pass through. His mind wandered, his body there but his mind gone.
"Do it! Do it! You won't! Hahah!"
"I won't, huh? haha"
"Yeah, you won't!" Sighing, the white haired kid grabbed the small purple pillar that was in front of him. Shimming up it he got to the top and studdered. Looking back down a rush of adrenaline flowed through him a quiet smirk came to his face. Pushing into the pillar with his feet he let go with his hands and managed to get the tips of his fingers on the edge of the over hang. Walking up the pillar he pulled himself on top of the awning that stood in front of the school.
"Haha, I did it.. your turn?"
"... Dude get down!" The blue and white lights flashed about the front parking lot of the high school. His friend looked at the car as it pulled up and back up at his friend. "I'm sorry!" Turning he took off down the side of the building and quickly rounded the side of it. Sighing the kid lay flat and silent on top of the building. The police officer had jumped from his vechile and ran after his friend, but did he have a partner? The kid looked over the opposite side. Nope. Dropping down to the ground the kid started down the street, his face innocent.
"Eh?" His eyes parted and he looked up from the ground. Another smile washed over him. Sitting up he enjoyed another cold breeze as it flowed up from endlessness that surrounded each pillar. He watched as another player approched a veteran. He was looking for someone to go somewhere with. The veteran promptly ignored him, as did the next. The frustrated character sat on a bench that ryok hadn't before seen in town, but there it was. Fun? His smile grew. He was half way to the bench and he hadn't yet realized if the character noticed him. Ryok didn't think so.. Walking at first straight towards the bench and then turned away abruptly. Mm.. fun. Walking with a crowd for a second or two he swung around and walked back behind the veiw of the character. Comming up right behind him he stopped and crouched. Reaching up over the side he grabbed the handle of the characters long arm. Pulling it up and over the side he hoped he'd get away with it, even though he knew he'd be caught. Half way there!
Shenmock looked out from his place on the bench. It wasn’t all too exciting around here. All he was doing was sitting down and hoping a high level player would come up to him and they would go questing and so on and so forth. But all he’d gotten was a complete NO as his answer and he hated it. He put his hands to his chin and bent down a bit, looking out at the area. No one seemed to notice him and he didn’t care. People were just so mean around here, these days. His eye slits almost closed from tiredness in the night, but he kept them wide open.
He thought he heard something grinding or something else, but as he saw it, he saw his spear being pulled away. At first, he just kept himself there, then, without a second thought he grabbed the spear and whirled around, coming face to face with a guy that looked quite young; even younger than he was. But for one thing, he looked stronger than him and was of the Heavy Blade class. He only knew Ko Inuyasha and another person he couldn’t remember, but he hadn’t come across one in quite a while. For a moment, he just stayed at the guy who was trying to pull his spear away, and then yanked it back, sitting on the chair once again, about to ignore him, when he noticed the level of the guy. Level 27? That sounded like the guy who was looking for. Maybe he’d agree to it…
He turned and looked at him again. "Err..." Shenmock stammered, still looking at the player. "So..." he stammered again. He was kind of confused on how to start out the conversation. So he went and did it as he did to high players. "Would you like to go questing with me?" It came out a bit quick, but he thought it'd suffice.
"Hmm? Me? Haha. I dunno maybe so, maybe toe? It's been quite a while thats for sure. It might be fun, are we going somewhere that might challenge even me?"
"I guess I could say so," Shenmock said. "Well, you're fourteen levels higher than me, but we could always go to a place that would challenge you, but a little for me. But yeah, I guess you could say that."
"Hmm… Have I seen you before? How do I know you?"
"No, I don't think we've met before." Shenmock held out his hand. "The name's Shenmock, level thirteen Long Arm. I'm partly experienced, but probably not half as experienced as you.”
"No, I know you. You're in the AoD. Neh?"
Shenmock stared at him for a moment, thinking of how stupid he had been before coming back to reality for once. He looked at his character name. "Well, I guess you're Ryok, the Second Lieutenant of the AoD as I see it." Shenmock shook his hand a bit. "Well, I'm partly new to the clan and to 'The World'," he said cheerfully.
"I can see, I don’t see why not then. Let’s go?"
Shenmock nodded. "So, any areas you had in mind or do you just want to go to a plain old area?" he asked.
Ryok looked up at Shen, half puzzled and then all at once he realized the question that had been asked. From his kneeling position he fell backwards and sat in a patch of grass. He grabbed his chin and closed his eyes his elbow resting on his lap. "Mmm…" Nodding, he opened his eyes and looked up at the blue haired boy. "None in particular as long as the dungeon will keep me entertained I'll be happy."
"Okay then, I guess it's time to go then," Shenmock said.
"Don't need anything?"
"Nah, I think I'm okay with the items, weapons, and accessories that I have at the moment." He smiled at Ryok. "Whenever you're ready," he said.
"Let's see…" Ryok looked down into the abyss that was his never-ending pouch. Sticking his whole arm into it he pulled out a few items, counted them, and dropped them back in. "I'm set. Shall we?"
Shenmock grinned. "Yeah, I'm more than ready to kick some serious monster butt." With that, he pulled out his spear. "Let's go" was all he said.
Shenmock turned and thought he heard Ryok getting up. He waited for a moment and looked back, making sure he was there. Then, he walked to the small pathway and walked across, passing by a few people, but not many on his way across. He kept his pace and stepped on the grass, pounding on an ant in his bare feet. He continued on like he was some guy who was level twenty or higher, but he was actually only level thirteen. It was partly lame, but he thought it was okay. A few people looked awkwardly at the party, confused that a level 27 was following a level 13. It was strange to see that, but the leader of the party wasn’t him; in terms of ranks and levels, Ryok was the higher up. He was just going ahead, that was all. Nothing too strange.
Shenmock and his party member arrived at the Chaos Gate. He admired its beauty for a moment before looking for keywords for a good area. He went through multiple times, trying to find the right one for his level and a bit for his, but most were too strong. He thought a level sixteen area would be okay. He turned to Ryok with the area keywords and a short description on it. It was always good to be prepared.
“Okay, we’ll be heading to Theta: Bursting Golden Treasure Gem. It’s an immense area with a great amount of monsters to fight. Not too strong of an area to you, but there’ll be a great many monsters to deal with.” He smiled. “It should be quite fun,” he said cheerfully. “Oh yeah, and it’s a level sixteen field just so you know.”
With that, he turned and raised his spear. “Bursting Golden Treasure Gem!” he yelled. A swish of gold and the rings ascended, dematerializing their character data as they faded away. The brief loading screen came up with the words ‘Bursting Golden Treasure Gem’ imprinted on a blue rectangular stone or something along the lines of that.
The loading screen disappeared and a grassy area appeared in front of him. Trees were spread out throughout the area and boulders were too. A few buildings were scattered, about, most being medium-sized. Plus, the sun was out and the clouds were drifting around, giving him the feel of a newbie field, except with stronger monsters and such. He liked it. Calm, peaceful, and then there were a few monsters to mix it up to make it a fun experience. All in all, this was a great area for him, but he didn’t know about Ryok. Was he a darker oriented guy or was he kind of like him?
“Well then, let’s get going,” he said, turning to Ryok. He raced off into the field, still wondering whether he had made the right choice for a questing partner.
