Private ✪ Finweald A Sweet Respite

[Luthien]

"Well I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself." The words followed after the blonde stuck out her tongue at Wisp for her comment, before she silently pulled the remains of the lemony roll towards her. "I’d always loved those summer love songs, but never really believed in them y’know… not until that week at least."

Even from a distance she’d been able to pick up the citrusy and fresh scent that wafted from it, and the elf was sure it’d be the perfect balance of sour and sweet before even taking her first bite. Dough Re Mi had nailed it again, and she could honestly see herself eating a few of these in the future.

"Mmm, wish I could say it was smooth sailing from there. He lives in Pennsylvania, and I live in Michigan." While she couldn’t deny their week-long romance in NYC had been some of her happiest memories to date, they’d both been quite aware that it would come to an end once the music festival was over. "Neither of us knew the other played TS either, this isn’t exactly the kinda game you go around telling others about in public after all."

It was amusing to think how she’d eventually learned that three of their motley crew from the first day actually played this game—him included—and part of her wondered if the other two that had been with them perhaps dabbled into this game from time to time. Maybe it was a fate thing, like the strings she’d seen in Camp Hope and some of the dreams visited by the elf, that drew them all together that day?

A light snort escaped her as she remembered the events in the camp’s mess tent as their paths had crossed, before her hand unconsciously retreated to touch the fabric of her choker on a particular spot. The prick of his blood dart never left a mark, but she still remembered where he’d pressed it at the time.

"Actually came this close," That same hand retreated from her neck then, index and thumb fingers held as close as elvenly possible without them touching. "To scoring my first death at his hands… though I can’t say it was unwarranted." She was keenly aware of the couple of blunders that had led to it, and how lucky both of them had been that she’d come out of it unscathed. "Word of advice? If you think you might know anyone here from IRL don’t surprise them by calling out their real name—even if it’s telepathically."

That would’ve definitely been a dumb way for her to die, not to mention the guilt Ari would’ve felt upon figuring out who exactly he would’ve killed.

She took a sip from her tea before her attention turned back to Wisp, the tail end of her words still echoing within her ears softly. "Imma take a wild guess here, and correct me if I’m wrong, but… well, you’re talking about the kiddos’ dad… right?" She only had bits and pieces to form a picture with, but the fact Wisp mentioned her life wasn’t her own and she was being protected from something… Lúthien couldn’t help but wonder if that something was actually the man she’d clearly loved so deeply.

@Wisp

 

[Wisp]

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Rina looked up at Luth as she spoke about the summer romance. Honestly it did sound like one of those unique experiences only found in a sweet summery bop or movie. A little giggle left her lips.

"Yeah, it sounds like one crazy teen movie or something."

She nodded her head along as her friend explained the distance between them. That would be a struggle. It was something Rina had experienced during her first Summer with her own partner. Though after just a few weeks they were planning to move in together considering how frustrating it was to be apart. Though, her position in life at that time allowed her to be that reckless, now....things weren't as easy. The sudden change wouldn't have been good for her children.

Though the story about her nearly being killed in game was surprising. Rina didn't assume Luth could be so careless, though she was care free. A slip up of such a high magnitude could be bad. Not that Rina was one to judge...she was in that sort of situation in real life.

"Well, at least it sounds like it worked out. You two can play the game together and see each other when possible. That's usually how it goes until you're ready to get serious and figure out the next move."

She smiled and took the last bite of the spicy curry bun...only to choke when Luth opened her mouth and spoke about the father of her children. She was quick to take a drink of her chai tea to help the lump of bread and spicy contents get down her throat. A few moments of coughing followed as Rina tried to get her throat back in order.

Her fingers brushed her hair out of her face then as she inhaled a slow breath.

"Wh-what?! Hiding from the father of my kids?? I...well...."

She groaned softly before rubbing her cheek. How was she going to explain this?

"I uh....I am hiding....but not for the reasons you think. My ex....Rosario...he wouldn't ever put his hands on me. He was....is a very tough and intimidating guy when he has to be, but he's charming...and generous."

She felt her face flush as she spoke about him for the first time in a very...very long time.

"He's smart, especially with numbers. Actually...he made finances look easy. Plus he has this way of looking at you...his eyes are sharp but gorgeous...always shifting between this pretty iridescent lavender color to an intense amethyst. Honestly....he was so perfect I have no idea how I caught his eye..."

She grinned softly.

"Both of my twins have his eyes. Selena also got his thick blonde hair and she's so pretty. Orion took after me mostly though...but I see parts of him in their expressions and attitudes. Ori makes the same grumpy face when he's thinking about something too hard. Selena hates getting up in the morning which was something Rosie absolutely hated too...they're his kids through and through..."

A little dreamy look crossed her features as she rest her head on her hand and stirred her straw around in her drink. She had the look of someone that could never fear the person they loved, but..fate wasn't always so kind.

"No...Rosie would never hurt me. I know that for a fact. He treated me like a queen..."

@Luthien

 

[Luthien]

That's usually how it goes until you're ready to get serious and figure out the next move.

The words lingered in her mind long after Wisp had spoken them, the blonde slowly stirring her straw as she played with the ice at the bottom of her glass of tea. Being able to spend time with one another in-game had been a blessing for their long distance relationship… but logging out after every session was always accompanied by a lingering ache in her chest, though not as much as when they’d had to part from each other’s side in the physical world.

She did try her best to keep her laughter in check when Wisp choked on her last bite, the pensive look on her face broken as she raised a hand to cover her lips, but despite her best efforts a light chortle resonated in the back of her throat. Guess that makes us even~ Not like she’d been aiming for that with her question, but hey she wasn’t going to complain about it either.

Rosario…? It wasn’t an uncommon last name to find for hispanics, though less so if it was actually his first name instead. A relieved sigh quietly slipped through her lips as Wisp reassured her that he wasn’t the danger she’d actually been avoiding, before the ends of her lips curled into a faint smirk as she continued to listen.

Anyone with a pair of working eyes could easily tell the white-haired woman was still head over heels for the guy.

"Oh I’m with Selena on that, getting up early is the absolute worst." Her grandpa and her nonna had both been early risers even from a young age, and the trait had even been passed down to their daughter… but Lúthien must’ve picked up after her mysterious father when it came to that. The earliest she’d willingly wake up was ten in the morning, and that’s if there were important things to do during the day—anything earlier than that should’ve been classified as a crime.

"... you still love him, don’t you?" The words slipped out without the blonde realizing it, a thought spoken out loud before the filter between her brain and her mouth had been set into its proper place.

@Wisp

 

[Wisp]

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Rina thought about what Luth had told her before her little tangent about her ex. Being careful about people calling out each other's names in real life. That made a lot of sense, considering this game wasn't exactly legal. So much of her life felt so forbidden and illegal now though. Her kids were a secret. Her jobs were like two separate worlds, teacher by day and a stripper by night. That was honestly some level of Batman shit....

And having to hide in plain sight...all of it. It was like she wore a mask over the different sections of her life. Being Wisp in the game wasn't really much different, but the relationships she could build here...well they felt real even if it was just for a few hours where she got to be someone's friend.

She smiled though as Luthien mentioned her similarity to her daughter. She nodded her head in understanding. Though she had once been a night owl during college. Now, she was happy to sleep more than a few hours at best. Between the nights where she didn't get home until four in the morning and the days where she was forced to be bright eyed and ready by six in the morning...a visit from the sandman was a blessing. Her breaks were normally spent napping and meals, well they came when the came.

Honestly, Rina had a very poor habit of taking care of herself. She'd make sure that the twins had their lunch and dinners prepped for the day. She'd give them a yummy breakfast before school and then take them to the care of their nanny, Amelia....she was the best gift the twin's Nonno could have ever given her. Still, she liked to make sure that they were set up for the night before she went off to her second job. The routine was almost set in stone that way. There was no time for games or rest outside of the nights she was off from the club.

Dating felt like a pipe dream. Seriously, when was the last time she'd even tried to at least have a hook up? Rina looked down at her fingers and started counting. The months quickly turning into a total of years. Four? She blinked with a surprised expression.

'I haven't had sex in four years? Well....does that count? It was a date but....he didn't really make it very far?'

Her attention was drawn back to Luthien as she realized what her friend had just asked her. Did she still love Rosario? Well, that felt like a no-brainer question. She should have been able to easily say she'd moved on from him. Their lives were very separate and different now, but it wasn't...they weren't together...and she'd seen some of the girls he'd taken home with him when she would occasionally get updates on his life from his father or other members of the Family. Some of them were as gorgeous as models....there was no way she could compare to that.

"Of course, my love for him comes forth like sunshine after the rain...and it burns with an equal amount of heat. But, he's moved on from me. It doesn't matter. "

She looked at Luth with a small sad smile. There was no way she couldn't be stuck on him.

"Out of curiosity does sex count if the guy you were hooking up with didn't put it in or get you off?"

She had a sneaking suspicion that the number of four years wasn't right....it might have been the last time she'd actually slept with Rosie?

@Luthien

 

[Luthien]

Wisp didn’t need to say anything for the blonde to understand the look behind those crimson eyes, few people were as perpetually exhausted as the parents of young children. Sure, she wasn’t a morning person now, though that certainly hadn’t been the case when she’d been in the single digits herself… waking up at the crack of dawn on the weekends had been as natural as breathing for her back then, but Val suspected that was because she was always sent to bed at 8PM every day.

A smile pulled the edges of her lips as Wisp admitted the feelings she harbored for this Rosario, though the joy of it was soon lost with the words that followed after.

It’s not like she couldn’t imagine a parent leaving their children, she personally knew what it was like to grow up with a father that hadn’t bothered to stick around. Plenty of times she’d questioned why her mother even decided to keep her, heavens knew that woman held no love for anyone except herself in that blackened heart of hers, though she’d eventually found the answer to that question… and as much as it had stung, at least it led Val to better things.

Her grandpa and nonna had been a blessing sent from above, and she counted herself lucky to share as much time as she’d been able to with them before they’d eventually passed on.

"Out of curiosity does sex count if the guy you were hooking up with didn't put it in or get you off?"

She’d been mid-sip when Wisp had decided to utter the most unexpected question yet at their table, causing the blonde to sputter as the liquid was inhaled instead of drunk. "¿Perdón—!?!" What had followed was a series of coughs of her own, the blonde turning to the side to make sure their food or Wisp were caught in the crossfire, until eventually the discomfort subsided.

"I’m s-starting to think you’re doing it on purpose now," That was twice now that Wisp had effectively blindsided her, but despite her words Lúthien doubted the other was actually trying to fuck with her… maybe. A red tint colored her cheeks as the blonde put some thought into her answer, though if it was due to the topic at hand or because she’d been unable to breathe for a hot minute was hard to pinpoint.

"Mmm..." It was a hard question, and more often than not the answers depended on a lot more than just the act alone. "I guess not if you’re both single and just fucking around and finding out." Fooling around wasn’t a crime between two consenting adults without significant others. "Buuut… I don’t think any partner would view it that way, y’know?"

There might be exceptions here and there depending on the individuals, but for the most part Lúthien was certain most partners wouldn’t think that didn’t count as sex if their significant other suddenly came up and told them about it out of the blue.

@Wisp

 

[Wisp]

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Rina couldn't help but smile at the elf's reaction to her question. The surprised expression was so freaking adorable. It was easy to tease her new friend. Though based upon the fact that she'd made her choke on something for the second time...she would need to work on her timing in the future. She didn't want to waste one of Luth's three lives on something like 'death by croissant' or 'she came, she drank, she choked, and she died.' Though the idea of those phrases on her tombstone would have been funny in the moment...

She didn't want to lose the new friend she'd just made however. Luth was too cute to let go of. So as Rina sipped on her tea and watched her friend process the question she thought to herself about the topic they had covered. Rosario who didn't know he was a father. The man she'd just left behind like a puff of smoke in the wind. The person she was trying to protect from his own blood ties. How do you explain that to a stranger, let alone the children you gave birth to? Well, for Rina...she just simply didn't...she avoided the topic of their father when the twins asked about him. Sure, they were old enough to be curious about him, but they were still young enough to let their imaginations wonder and create their own stories.

Though Ori was certainly catching on to things faster than Selena....and that was something that was starting to bother Rina. Someday, they would piece together the severity of their situation. Worse, they would seek out their father and demand answers just like he would once he learned about them....

She turned her gaze on Luth as she began to speak. Explaining that any partner would probably not forgive something like that if they were together. Well, she had to agree. If she were still with Rosario now and he did such a thing....it would break her. Though, they weren't together...and he still managed to break her heart when she was often updated on the lastest flings. Some of them had been girls she knew or up and coming beauties. Everything that she could never dare to dream of becoming at this point.

She smiled sadly and took a bite of her chocolate croissant. The bread was crispy and fluffy. Though the words escaped her as she looked up at her friend with a defeated expression. Rina knew that she was so stuck on him...she'd spend the rest of her life waiting...

"Well, I guess it counts then...I slept with one person in 6 years....while he's taken home more beautiful women than I can keep track of...."

She looked at Luth with a surprised expression. It wasn't like she meant to sound like a stalker or anything. She wasn't that stuck on this man!

"Some of his flings and I run in similar circles....I swear I'm not like....stalker crazy for him!"

[/i][/i]

@Luthien

 

[Luthien]

It was impossible to miss the aching in those scarlet eyes, or the sadness that clung to the smile that Wisp tried to give her in return after Lúthien answered the unexpected question. The eyebrow that slowly rose above her eye was quickly met by an addendum from Wisp as her new friend tried to clarify how she knew that her beloved had been getting around for the past six years.

"Right… sounds like you’re both pretty close to each other then?" It was the only logical explanation as to why his flings would actually be in similar circles as Wisp, though that new piece of information just made it even more impressive that she’d been able to hide from him all this time…

"You sure he doesn’t know about the kiddos already?" Sure, Wisp had seemed quite sure that Rosario was a good man—that he would’ve never hurt them, and had even treated Wisp like a queen… It was the type of story she’d heard plenty of times in the past, though in that retelling she’d been painted as the reason everything had fallen apart. Part of her didn’t want to give voice to these thoughts, she didn’t want to risk losing a friend she’d just made and one that Lúthien honestly wished to know more of too.

"You’re certain he’s not unhinged or a danger to you, so he must be someone important to draw big enough trouble that the thought of getting UI locked in here—away from your kiddos—didn’t phase you as much as it has others."

She paused, her gaze focused on Wisp then as the blonde tried to get a read from the other. For all she knew this was a subject that she didn’t want to speak about with anyone else, much less a stranger of all things, but the longing Luthien had seen swimming within those eyes almost broke her heart in two. "Six years is a long time to hide from someone that lives close to you—even in a big city—especially if the twins look a lot like him…"

@Wisp

 

[Wisp]

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Rina adjusted her posture as she leaned back in her chair. Looking over at Luthien as she listened to what her friend said. Clearly the elf was concerned for her wellbeing. Knowing what she'd told her...it sounded scary, dangerous, and in a lot of ways....unhinged how her life had become. To a person with a relatively normal living situation in the real world....it was. Or, at least it would seem like something ripped straight out of an 80's action movie.

Softly she bit her lip. It was a terrible nervous habit that she had, but she needed the little burst of pain to keep herself grounded. Still there was silence that came from her as Luth asked her the questions that plagued her mind. Her own gaze seeming to darken as she looked at the food on her plate. Suddenly, it seemed like her appetite was gone.

"We're close to each other...and we aren't. I'm pretty involved with his family...especially with his dad. The kids adore their Nonno."

She forced a soft smile onto her lips. Plus, a man like Rosario was hard to miss in the world. Gorgeous, rich, powerful...all the above....and he had it. He was the sort of man that women only dreamed of capturing in errotic novels. Still, to leave Luth hanging...well it wouldn't be fair.

"Have you ever heard about the Amantea crime family, Luth?"

Her scarlet gaze moved from her food to her friend as she looked at her with a calm expression. It was a well connected and known name, but it wasn't something quite as tied close to home like Al Capone. Still, they were a family not to be crossed....

Yet here she was, the mother of their successor's children in a game with a girl she'd only just met.

"He has a history with them, so...that's why I know. But, no...Rosie wanted to get away from that life. He's doing much bigger and better things now. We run in similar circles, but I've spent a long time working to keep myself and my babies secret. They're safe and right now my life is mostly quiet.
We don't do a whole lot outside of school or when I work, but their lives are full of imagination and adventure in more simple ways."

@Luthien

 

[Luthien]

The little cream pastry that brought them together in the first place currently sat untouched on her tray, momentarily forgotten as their conversation had deviated into heavier topics. She was concerned for her newfound friend, but as the silence began to stretch between them Lúthien couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps she’d stuck her nose where it didn’t belong.

She’d been about to reassure Wisp that she didn’t need to answer, perhaps stray their conversation back into lighter things they could both laugh and enjoy as they forgot about the real world struggles, but the words never made it out as Wisp began to speak.

"Nonno…?" She was unable to hide the surprise upon hearing the familiar word from another, one that Valeria hadn’t been accustomed to hearing from the voice of one that wasn’t her own nonna. "... you’re Italian."

Brows furrowed as the blonde thought deeply on the family name given to her, leaning back into her chair as her index finger quietly tapped away against her arm. "I… hmm... it feels like I’ve heard it before." A crime family—a mafia—was usually the thing of books and movies for most and, in this day and age, many probably thought they were just legends of the past.

Al Capone was the classic one anyone thought about when talking about it and, considering she’d never been too interested in them, Lúthien would’ve thought that none other would’ve ever rung a bell… but then why did this one felt familiar—"A-Ah…!" Realization finally dawned on her as her gaze flickered back to Wisp’s, nodding in confirmation.

"Nonna mentioned them once or twice when she would tell me of her time in New York, that’s where she studied when she came over from Italy." It had been brief and in passing, but the unique sound of the name had stuck out in her mind even to this day. "Never knew they were a crime family though, I just thought they were people that had helped nonna out when she’d been alone in a new place."

If half of the things or more depicted in mafia movies could be believed then that certainly explained the predicament Wisp found herself in now, and why the woman had been so nonchalant when learning about the UI locking possibilities of this game. "Yeah that can’t be easy… but I’m glad to hear they’re safe, and that their nonno loves them."

@Wisp

 

[Wisp]

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Rina looked up at her friend as she uttered the word nonno. Shit...perhaps that was revealing a bit more to her new friend than she was supposed to? Or...was it just a weird word to Luth? Well, it was Italian and based on how her friend looked at her while she processed it...it seemed that the phrase was actually something familiar?

She smiled softly though when the elf made the connection between the word and her cultural identity. Her own family history was still quite rich in the traditions of their homelands, though she herself was only a second generation Italian American. Her grandparents left for political reasons and migrated to the US for a better opportunity at life. Though the transition had been hard and her mother was clearly still struggling even today, Rina had been....somewhat lucky....at least her life was mostly stable.

"Yes, I am. My grandparents are from Sicily."

Quietly she twirled her straw in her cup as she continued to watch Luth. The quiet between them was certainly something to both enjoy and be worried about. Honestly, that was what Rina understood was happening now...Luth was genuinely worried about her. Though the response about her Nonna made her smile.

So she had Italian in her too. Though learning that her grandmother knew about the Amantea family wasn't exactly shocking, but considering where they lived...well she didn't thing the influence went as far as Michigan. Though, there was no telling what that family was capable of. Hell, look at the path Rosario has literally blown through the financial world for himself. As a Crime boss? Well...there was no telling....

And she hoped she would never learn.

"They're a bit of everything honestly. But yeah, crime is a part of it. They've really helped to pave the way for new immigrants to the States, especially in New York."

She picked up her tea and sipped on it again as she listened to Luth.

A soft nod from her gave the acknowledgement that she agreed with her friend.

"It's not easy, but the twins are happy. I work as a teacher to support them, but I also work most nights as an exotic dancer to make sure the bills are paid up. What do you do for a living Luth?"

@Luthien

 

[Luthien]

Her face lit up as Wisp confirmed her suspicions, elated to find someone besides Fiora and herself that shared an Italian heritage. "Sicily… if I remember correctly that’s close to the boot tip, right?" It’d been a while since she’d looked at a map of Italy and its regions, mostly because she’d been focused on the opposite end of it while researching it.

"Nonna was from Veneto." She could remember the small tales her grandmother had shared with Val of that time. Although she’d had the misfortune of being born smack into the middle of the Second World War her nonna had been lucky to only remember the tailend of it all before things took a turn for the better in Padova.

A light nod was given as Wisp tried to reassure her that crime wasn’t the only thing the Amantea were known for, before a small ‘o’ formed on her lips as the blonde finally remembered why she knew of them in the first place. "That’s it! Nonna arrived in New York when she immigrated from Padova, they were the ones that helped her complete her studies and find a stable job when she’d been all alone in a new place." The gratitude her grandmother had felt for that aid hadn’t diminished over the decades she’d been fortunate to enjoy, Valeria could remember the fondness in her eyes whenever her nonna had spoken of those times.

It helped ease some of the growing worries she’d felt until now, reassured that Wisp wasn’t just trying to paint a better picture of her situation. Granted, the Amantea her nonna had known back in the day were unlikely to be around now… but she could only hope the descendants had upheld the family values that had led them to aid immigrants back then.

"Whoa, teacher and exotic dancer? That already sounds exhausting, but you also have the kiddos too." Part of her was amused at how polar opposite the professions were from one another, though that wasn’t really what had surprised Lúthien the most. "How did you even find time for a death game of all things, Wisp?"

The lightness in her voice showed she meant no disrespect with her words, she was truly amazed at great time management skills that her newfound friend clearly possessed. "Worked as a waitress during the later years of high school." Her grandparents had often reassured her that it wasn't needed, but they’d been kind enough to allow Val her own pursuits so long as her grades didn’t suffer.

"Always wanted to stream though, so I often invested whatever I earned back into that and photography." She would’ve never guessed her hobbies would become careers she could depend on for her livelihood, and if things had turned out different in life perhaps they would’ve always remained as just pleasant pastimes. "Now I actually stream for a living, and do some boudoir on the side~"

@Wisp

 

[Wisp]

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Rina couldn't help but listen as Luthien told her the story of her grandmother. It was quite sweet honestly. To know that she traveled so far to create a better life and study. It felt so relatable honestly.

"I love that. Padova is supposed to be quite a pretty place."

She continued to sip on her drink. Italy was a dream location for her to travel to. The history, the romance, and the music and art was all the big draw. Exploring the home of her ancestors would be an incredble escape...maybe someday she would....

"I want to go see Europe someday...just all the beautiful culture there...its something that just sticks in my head. I could totally write a stories about so much."

She looked at Luth when she asked her question about how she found time to play the game. Honestly, that was a pretty common question once people found out how busy she was. Work was a lot and the kids were always so full of energy...there was rarely any time to just relax, but that was exactly why she played TS.

"Well, this death game is my way of relaxing and trying to make friends."

She smiled softly. Sleep was for the weak anyways.

"Though your life sounds sooo much more exciting. Boudoir huh? So you're sassy and sexy irl? Sounds like your boyfriend might have quite a lot to handle."

She teased her before picking up the coveted cream bun and offering it to her for the first bite.

@Luthien

 

[Luthien]

"Yeah, grandma spoke of it fondly… and the pictures I’ve seen on Google look magnificent." The whole region of Veneto was certainly impressive, and she would’ve loved nothing more than to explore it with her grandparents had life allowed it. "Definitely wanna visit one day, y’know get closer to my roots and all that stuff~"

She knew some distant blood relatives were still in those areas; the 23&Me test she’d taken over summer had confirmed as much, though she was as much of a stranger to them as they were to her. "Probably visit a bunch of other parts too while in Europe, might as well take full advantage of the trip once there right?"

Little by little the air around them eased up once more as their conversation turned into lighter matters, the muscles that had unconsciously tensed around her shoulders relaxing once more as a soft chuckle escaped the elf. "Fair, besides we can sleep once we’re dead~" Being able to play while asleep certainly had its advantages at times, and the blonde was already familiar with the general exhaustion that came with poor sleep long before she’d found Terrasphere anyways.

She felt her cheeks heat up by a degree or two at the teasing words of her friend, before she attempted to hide the embarrassment by taking a bite of the offered cream bun. "Always thought the play with angles and lights versus shadows looked really cool… and it was easier to keep up with the bills." For the longest time it had been her biggest source of revenue, and the flexibility it had afforded allowed Valeria to support her grandparents in a time of need.

She’d never regretted it, even though she knew not many would agree, but part of her had been relieved when Ari hadn’t judged her over it. "Maybe, but I think he enjoys it~" A smile danced on her lips as she offered the cream bun back to Wisp.

@Wisp

 

[Wisp]

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Rina giggled at her little joke about sleeping when they were dead. Honestly, it was true. There was too much in this reality and in their real lives to risk missing out on. Still, as they talked about the idea of traveling around Europe it kind of made her excited. Just thinking about the incredible places that she would hopefully get to take her twins to see....

Well they were big dreams, but she was certain she would make them happen someday. Even if it wasn't until she could retire...she would take her kids to see the impressive landmarks across the Atlantic and teach them about their family heritage. Yes, this was a personal goal for her future.

"Honestly, yes. Traveling all around Europe would be incredible. I wouldn't be opposed to Asia though either. I have a friend who lives in Japan right now that I would love to visit in person."

She smiled as she thought about the petite blonde girl. She had a spunk to her that just made things interesting when they had the time to play the game together. Though it was pretty hard to sync up due to the difference in time zones.

"It's so good right?"

Rina watched as Luth took her first bite of the cream bun. Who knew that such a sweet pastry would be what helped such a lovely friendship blossom. This was the first time in a very long time that she felt truly optimistic about her life. Maybe, things wouldn't be as bad as she was anticipating....maybe she could be happy and live a normal life with her kids in the future. Or at least, well now she felt like she had someone that really cared about her outside of her immediate family.

"Sounds like fun honestly. I would love to do a photoshoot myself someday. Might make a good present for a new partner..."

She twirled her hair around her finger before she realized she was being offered the cream bun back. Without thinking she picked up the pastry and bit the other end of it that was opposite from where Luth took in the fluffy delight. A bit of the cream squirted out and onto the table between the pair. Rina couldn't help but laugh at the silliness of the situation with her cheeks puffed out and full of pastry.

@Luthien

 

[Luthien]

"Can’t go wrong with either, and both of their cuisines are to die for~" That said there was a marked difference in the amount of time touring each one would take. While the blonde felt confident a good two, maybe three, weeks would be enough for a decent trip throughout Europe she’d always felt a trip throughout Asia would easily take her at least three months… if not more.

"It's so good right?"
"Mhmm, creamy and sweet without being sickeningly so… they certainly know what they’re doing back there."

Who would’ve thought that a random bakery in a corner that Lúthien hadn’t noticed before would turn out to have such delicious treats, and a new friend to be made too. "I’ll definitely be coming back, and I’m sure quite a few Whistles from the League will love this place too~" A little piece of heaven like this one deserved to be shared with others, and the relaxing atmosphere here would undoubtedly serve to help others unwind from the mounting stress and pressure on their shoulders.

"Let me know if you decide to go for it, I can link you to the proper places for tips and tricks."She was always more than glad to give a helping hand to those that wanted to explore one of her favorite hobbies. "Maybe I can be your photographer if we’re ever in the same zip code~"

As the pastry was handed off Lúthien reached for her drink once more, but before the blonde could think of taking a sip she was treated to a rather unexpected sight. As a bit of cream squirted off the end Wisp had bitten her mind nosedived into the 13YO gutter, the elf barely able to cover her mouth as a snorted laugh escaped her seconds after.

@Wisp

 

[Wisp]

Rina simply could not hide her grin. The sheer amount of joy that she felt in hanging out with Luth...well this was the very reason she joined TS. She craved connection with others like her. Not only was her new friend a creator in her own way, but she understood the life of a woman performing in a more intimate capacity. She honestly adored her newly found friend. It was a connection certainly worth enduring the potential horrors of the game for.

"The food and the fun are absolutely worth the excitement. I'm sure it will be amazing someday."

She twirled her hair around her finger tip as she watched the elf's assessment of the yummy desserts. She was beaming with joy in this moment. Sure, their time together might be drawing to a close as Rina figured out her selection of snacks probably weren't going to fit into her stomach, but surely they would be able to meet up again soon?

"I love how airy the bread is. So fluffy too. Feel free to snatch up the rest of my baked goods. They're just going to hang in my inventory otherwise honestly. I'm sure passing out some free samples will win over some appetites too."

She was stuffed and happy...at least in one way. Nodding her head she pulled up her UI and flipped through some of the items before pulling out a little pad of paper and a pen.

"One adventurer to another though, would you have any good spots to recommend checking out for a newbie? I'm itching to see more than just the forests."

@Luthien

 

[Luthien]

It soon became apparent that they’d purchased more than they could finish in one sitting, though that of itself wasn’t a bad problem to have as far as the elf was concerned. "No worries, I gotcha—I know some of the gold and orange Whistles that are gonna love getting a bite of these~" A particular blond caenis and his younger companion crossed her mind then, though she doubted there’d be leftover treats for her to take to the village after visiting the recruits.

Maybe she’d get some to take them on another day, or it could prove a good enough excuse for Luna to come and visit.

Before long the sweets had been gathered up and, with a few simple movements of her fingers in the air, they had promptly disappeared into the confines of her inventory—a pity though that it wasn’t able to preserve food for eternity. The little pad and pen that materialized for Wisp certainly caught her attention then, the elf taking the last remaining sips of her drink as she pondered over her newfound friend’s question.

"Mmm, that’s actually a hard one…" She could think of one place that was certainly drastically different from the forests newbies quickly became accustomed to, though Vintergard wasn’t exactly a beginner friendly area. "I guess there’s the desert-like areas around Redchron… though some of the people there are kinda weird. I wouldn’t explore it without at least one other person."

She’d only been to the place a handful of times, but everytime she had the elf couldn’t shake off the feeling they were being watched intently by the locals—and she was smart enough to listen to her gut and the bad vibes it kept picking up in that city. "Oh, there’s also Lake Horatio!" Yes, it was surrounded by a lot of forest… but the lake itself was a sight to behold, and certainly something different from the scenery that Wisp was probably becoming bored of.

"There’s also a lakelodge there that’s run by a faerin, Lala. I haven’t stayed there, but I’ve heard the food is good and the rooms pretty comfy." She couldn’t remember any of the monsters that called the nearby areas their home being particularly problematic to handle, so she was certain Wisp would be fine if she decided to visit the area without a party. "If you do go I recommend staying until late into the night before you log out."

Already the blonde had been greatly impressed by the starry skies within the game at night, a sharp contrast to the duller ones most of them were accustomed to in their IRL cities. Add to that a massive lake that essentially functioned as a mirror once the sun disappeared over the horizon and… "The view is good enough to die for~"

@Wisp

 

[Wisp]

Rina watched as Luth packed away all of the treats with ease into her inventory. Honestly, the elf made everything seem so easy in the game. Though that was probably the factor of having played it for so long, perhaps one day she would be able to achieve a similar ease about the mechanics. Though, there were certainly perks to being new to the game considering how exciting and different it all was to her. In many ways although she'd heard the stories of how brutal the world in TS could be....it was still a place that seemed so enchanting and magical to her.

She smiled as she listened to the elf. Luth clearly enjoyed venturing out around the entire terrain of TS when she could. The area of Redchron certainly sounded mysterious and cool, but she would definitely heed her friend's warning. If it was enough to put someone like her on edge there was probably a good reason for it. Rina also had enough personal experience with having to avoid sketchy places that taking the advice of a far more seasoned explorer was something she would trust.

"Redchron does sound like an interesting place, but I will definitely make sure I go with someone. I'm still a little too weak to trust myself going that far though..."

When the topic of Lake Horatio came up it certainly caught Rina's attention. She had a gut feeling that it might be the same location Hanno had mentioned to her. The lake with lots of flowers and a goregous setting, but the Inn was certainly a new detail for her. So, it really was a good spot for a date. Rina grinned at the idea. It would certainly be a nice spot to explore during her next burst of adventure.

"So I'm guessing you've hooked up with your lover boy a few times at this Inn?" She winked at Luth with a coy smile.

@Luthien

 

[Luthien]

"Yeah, the nearby desert is home to a few scalies and whatnot too… so it might be best to explore that area a little bit later, once you’re more attuned with your avatar and its abilities." That or with a couple of more experienced players in a small party, but certainly not a place Lúthien would send a novice on their lonesome to.

"So I'm guessing you've hooked up with your lover boy a few times at this Inn?"

It was a small mercy that she had long finished her drink, so the elf didn’t find herself choking on it this time. Out of all the questions she’d expected the human to have about Lake Horatio and its inn… Well, this one was certainly not in the list Lúthien had been prepared to answer. "Wha—N-No, that’s not—" A hand reached to pinch the bridge of her nose as the elf felt the heat rising up to her cheeks, the tip of her elongated ears glowing a bright red at the thought.

"L-Look," A mental pin was placed on it after the girl realized it wouldn’t go away any time soon and, considering the amount of work Yugam and her did for the League, she doubted Beleg would mind if the pair asked for a couple of vacation days anyways. "I won’t deny it’s definitely a popular spot, but it’s worth visiting even if it isn’t with a date."

Monsters wouldn’t appear around a certain radius from the inn, though if that was due to the lodge itself and the faerin that managed it or some other reason the elf couldn’t tell. "It’s certainly a good spot to farm mastery points and gold, both of which you’ll need if you wanna rank up and unlock new skills quickly." The Guild usually had pinned requests that could be completed in the nearby area after all, and with enough prompting perhaps even Lala would have something for Wisp to help with.

@Wisp

 

[Wisp]

Rina suppressed a school-girl giggle. Teasing the elf was clearly too easy. Though, she kind of envied the ease that her new friend could enjoy this sense of love with her partner. It seemed not so much like their relationship was easy, but rather...comfortable. It was a sign of definite green flags there, at least from what she could see as an outsider new to their story.

Still, she never imagined she could have such a cute flush even through her ears....it was absolutely adorable.

"Sorry. You're just too cute to resist teasing. I love how genuine you are with your feelings and expressions."

She listened intently as Luth continued to explain her reasons for recommending the location.

Lake Horatio huh? Honestly, the place would be fun to check out on her next outing. Looking for some ways to make some extra funds and build up her character's ranking would definitely help. What was her rank right now actually? That was something Rina hadn't thought too much about. The idea of just playing and exploring for the hell of it was a major part of what she spent her time doing, hence the interest in the guild.

Though....yeah that was something she definitely needed to work on.

She opened her UI and flipped through some of her armor and stuff. Her fingers mimicking the actions in the air as Luthien explained more about the location. Her scarlet orbs lit up with surprise. Her rank was a bit higher than she realized actually. Was getting into trouble really helping her out more than she realized?

"Oh cool. I guess I'm a little stronger than I realized. I'll definitely need to work on farming some gold to get some better equipment though. Most of my items are still pretty low ranking. I definitely think you're right Luth. I'll probably go hang out there for a while and focus on what I can for training and building my skills more."

She smiled with an understanding expression. Yeah, there was definitely a lot that she needed to work on learning.

"I would love to do some exploring and stuff with you once I balance out my skills a bit more. A girl's day is always a necessity, so I would love to plan something soon."

@Luthien