Complete Private ✪ Stokbon Between a Rock and a Dinner Date

[Lune]

The weekend is a pretty chill day. Moonsong didn't do any adventuring the whole day and spent the day shopping for clothes around Stokbon, mainly because of the mail she got yesterday from none other than @Chrys. The contents? The detail's not important, but basically 'dinner, Stokbon, tomorrow night' type of message. She literally got jebaited into this dinner, but there's no one to blame other than herself.

A promise is a promise, at least he's paying. Sighing, she opened her UI and composed a reply.

Mail

7pm sharp then. I'll wait at Endra's Square.

Back in her small inn room, the girl put extra effort and time into properly cleaning herself and making herself smell a little better, with the lotions and perfumes she bought just outside that were apparently made with local flowers. As far as she knows, there's nothing in the real world that smells like it. Moonsong left her armor set behind and opted for a more casual outfit, because no one in their right mind would go to a dinner looking straight like a demonic princess from hell and dresses aren't just her thing.

Tying her hair in a ponytail and wearing some make-up, she left for the city square as the sun sets.

Spoiler: Outfit

Coincidentally, at this time of day, the town square isn't crowded like usual. She sat down on a bench in the middle of Endra's Square, waiting for her dinner date partner to show up. It's just turned 7pm on the UI clock. Hopefully, the man wouldn't be late. She didn't know yet where Chrys would be taking her for dinner. There are many notable establishments in Stokbon, so pray that he didn't choose that one Curry House.

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

Smelling nice and cool as ice.

Chrys was already in the game when he received @Moonsong's message, which is a little sad if you think about it. In the real world, he was this posh international lawyer whose clients list included some of the worst people in the world. In this game? He was some sort of vagabond, just traveling all over the known world to sample new things, most could not compare to the glitz and glamour of C. S. Jackson's wealthy lifestyle. Strangely enough, he actually preferred the latter, as if he was already bored of all the elitist bullshit he's experienced in the other world, his original world.

Oh, and he also acquired a tavern, the same tavern where he met most of his new friends, a collective of newbies like him who were all very excited to experience what this new world had to offer. One of them died but life goes on. Also he technically co-owns the tavern with his rich bankroller who insisted to attach a funeral parlor to the building. That'll probably come up in another story or something. Anyway, after spending most of the day cleaning the place, he managed to find his lovely date with relative ease, especially considering she was wearing something that definitely made her stand out from the crowd.

"Hey. You look amazing."

Chrys took a moment to look her over from head to toe, as if memorizing her very form. In truth, he was just at awe at how amazing her avatar looked. Maybe she looked the same in the real world. Maybe not. Chrys didn't care. He was in this one at the moment, and what she was looking at, who, was very pleasing to his eyes.

"You ready to eat? I know a place."

Nope. Chrys didn't choose that one Curry House. He hasn't heard of it yet or met anyone affiliated with it. If he had, he'd be very concerned about the dead guy who poisoned a lot of people with his food. Chrys extended his arm for her to grab, looking to take her to the best tavern to eat in Stokbon, which is a little biased considering he owns it now...

WICKED'S REST
Tavern and Funeral Parlor

Spoiler: Theme

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

All cleaned up for the hot Korean.

Chrys held out the door for her, as a bored looking little man just stared at them from behind the counter while cleaning a glass. A rather cheerful girl immediately rushed towards them, bumping into the edge of the counter, much to the dismay of the little man. "Oh, gosh, you must be Moon-moon! You're so pretty! And hot! Yowza!" The girl tried to give Moonsong a hug but Chrys pushed her away with a hand on his face, ignoring her very existence, while focusing on Moonsong with a warm smile on his face.

"It's not much, but it's going to be amazing some day. Where would you like to sit?"

 

[Lune]

Just as she closed her UI, the awaited man suddenly appeared in front of her, walking under a lamp post. He complimented her, only for Moonsong to reply with a grin. "I know." Looking at @Chrys, she suddenly wished that she dressed better. The gold and copper colored attire greatly resonated with his appearance, giving the impression of a street-smart man. "Let us go, then." The girl motioned Chrys to guide her through the way.

Moonsong somehow felt a strong feeling that he would take her to the curry house. Why? Nobody knows. Maybe it's a previous life thing? Anyway, they have successfully averted crisis since the building they stopped in front of didn't look anything like it.

Instead, it's a bright, clean tavern which is of course the opposite of the curry house. "Wicked's... Rest?" She raised an eyebrow at the haunting name. The fact that there's a text indicating that it might also be a funeral parlor doesn't help much.

Any worries about Chrys being a serial killer who kidnaps young girls quickly as he held out the door for her, revealing the inside of the gleaming tavern. There's a little man behind the counter and an extremely cheerful girl who rushed to them before trying to give her a hug. Moonsong sheepishly smiled and bowed several times while waving her hand at the girl.

Actually, as beautiful as this tavern is, isn't it rather peculiar that nobody is eating here? "Did you rent the whole place for us?" She had some time to process the man's words. It's not much, but it's going to be amazing some day.

Wait.

"You own this tavern?" Moonsong expressed in disbelief. Gosh, so many people actually own a place of establishment in Stokbon. She wouldn't be surprised if a player actually owned the inn where she lived. "Anyway, let's sit near the window. I want to be able to see outside." She pointed to the table near the entrance they just walked from.

After sitting down, she let out a massive sigh. "I have so many questions, but let's just start with the normal one. What kind of food do you serve here?" She asked Chrys.

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

Osmanthus wine and dine.

When @Moonsong questioned the name of the establishment, Chrys had to take a second, a moment, to think that through himself. Why was it called Wicked's Rest? The first time he stumbled into this place, he did so under the urging of a different friend. It was she who discovered this little hole in the wall. Chrys merely couldn't forget it.

"Hmm? Ah, it had been its name since it was founded, I believe. Didn't want to remove that piece of history. I like history."

The same was true for his life in the real world. Chrys, rather C. S. Jackson, had always had a special place in his heart for history and the many remnants of past civilizations, and past lives. He has yet to actually know why, but he believes it must have something to do with the concepts of legacies and immortality. Chrys had no delusions of living past his own mortality, but he delighted in the prospect of souvenirs, trinkets of the past that survived to this day and perhaps even to days beyond his own life. Much could be said about such longevity, though Chrys did not feel like focusing on that aspect of his interests at the moment.

Chrys could only nod, beaming with pride, when Moonsong put two and two together. Purchasing the place had never been on his to-do list, but a chance encounter with his bankroller, a lovely woman with a penchant for smoking pipes, led him to where he was now. Sure, it was odd that she insisted they attach a funeral parlor to the place, but the people who sold them the tavern didn't really care. They actually seemed excited to finally let the place go. Maybe that was a red flag.

Without saying a word, he gestured for her to walk towards the table first and he would follow her lead. It was both the most chivalrous thing to do and also not. Shouldn't be a hard puzzle to solve when you consider the view from second place. Hehe. After helping Moonsong take her seat, he slowly took his seat as well, and let out a sigh of relief, gesturing for the annoying child-like servers to bring them the menu.

"Ah, yes, this view is splendid. Hm? Nothing fancy. For now. Just common food that should help satiate one's hunger. Tell me, Moonsong, what do you hunger for?"

He leaned forward and looked deeply into her eyes with his own.

Spoiler: Menu

 

[Lune]

She always liked the view of the night crowd. It reminded her a lot of Itaewon, where she used to hang out or drink alone back in Korea. The melancholy is quickly shattered as @Chrys leaned forward closer, meeting her in the eyes. She recoiled a little bit as the golden eyes locked with her dark, violet eyes for a few seconds, all while asking a rather ambiguous sinister phrase 'What do you hunger for?'

Okay, this man is definitely a serial murderer. Don't worry, silently open your phone and call the police...

Wait, there's no phone or police here.

Moonsong opened the menu, holding it in from of her to block the view. Quickly scanning the menu, she popped to the side to look at her date partner with a look on her face, flipping the menu towards him. "You're the owner of this place. Do you even read what's written here?" She complained, pointing at the description of each menu item.

"Who in the right mind would order these? Anyway, why don't we order one for each of them?" She proposed, ignoring her previous complaints. "We do it like that where I'm from. We can just split every meal, and that way, I can really judge how good they are!" Another reason is that she's actually really hungry. She skipped meals today and only chewed slime gums.

After ordering, she sighed as they wait for the first order. What do people do on dates anyway? It's been a very long time since she went on one. "What do people do on dates anyway?" Moonsong accidentally voiced her thoughts out loud, before quickly following through as she realized. "I mean, they usually talk about each other. But this is a virtual world, and I don't know you enough. Asking things might be... too private? I know some people aren't into that."

Fuck. Quick, appetizer, come and save the date.

Exhaling once again at the piece of meal that just won't come, she gave in. "Maybe I'll ask first then. Why do you play the game? Anything that charms you?"

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

Perfect 500-word post.

Chrys couldn't fight the urge to let out a brief chuckle when @Moonsong pointed out the, uhh, "creative license" used in the writing of the menu. He stole a quick glimpse of the moody little man behind the bar who was still cleaning a glass. Perhaps it was a different one? Chrys could never tell. When their eyes met, the moody little man just scowled at him, rolled his eyes, and turned to face the opposite side of the tavern. As if on cue, a party of four entered the establishment and the rather cheerful girl from before greeted them with the same excitement, seemingly the only server at the place. For now.

"The previous owners had a sense of humor as well. Since two of their best staff stayed with us, I decided to keep it in. Great conversation starters between patrons and staff."

He omitted the part about that only working with the girl, her sometimes annoying but genuine cheerfulness allowing her to turn any complaint into something fun and interesting. The man at the bar? Not so much. He had a concealed knife with him, and oft-times, he was very good at assisting at the funeral parlor attached to the tavern. Might even be the best job for him.

"Fair enough."

Chrys raised a hand and the girl was quick to take out a pen and a pad of paper, eager to take his order. She had the comely smile that made her great at her job but also the obvious quick wit to defuse and turn the tables on troublemakers. She was annoying as fuck, though. "What will it be, you lovely couple, you?!"

"I'll have the sandwich and scones."

The girl was quick. She was out of there, in the kitchen, and back out again to deliver their respective meals without any further delay. "Here you go! Enjoy! Hehehehe." As per usual, Chrys just ignored her and started to take a bite of his sandwich, slowly savoring the taste of the beef in between the bread. It was a deceptive meal, simple on paper but very filling. He looked Moonsong in the eyes, as serious as he could be, when answering her question.

"Well, as someone who has gone on a few dates outside of this game, most of the time, it's all just small talk before spending the rest of the night intimately. Have you been intimate with someone else before, Moonsong? Best way to know another person is through their...soul."

He had a good albeit brief chuckle out of that.

"Aside from you? Well, I suppose the possibilities in here are also quite charming. It's a good...respite from the real world, with all its issues and boring...excesses. There's newer things here than out there. In here, I can move literal mountains. Out there, I just help idiots with their own problems. What about you? Why do you play the game? Who are you out there?"

 

[Lune]

Her salad somehow came after Chrys' sandwich. Well, he's the owner, after all. The waitress girl came and kept smiling and winking at her, giving Moonsong thumbs up before disappearing back into the kitchen. Oh, well. She paid no particular heed to the four people that just entered the tavern. Maybe this place is famous after all?

It pretty much looked like what a real-world salad would look like with light dressing. She took one pinch full of vegetables with a fork and put it inside her mouth, chewing it a few times. It was actually good, unlike what the description on the menu implied. "Oh, it's pretty good. Here, try this." The girl pushed the plate of salad towards @Chrys who's currently busy munching on his sandwich. "Funny, I don't usually see guys eating sandwiches on dates."

And now he's delivering a creepy line again while staring right into her eyes and munching slowly, except he did let a laugh out so this time it came out more as a joke. Moonsong whistled, eyes locking at his. "Whoa, looks like we have a casanova here. Just how many girls have you charmed with your spell, hmm?" Probably many, especially if he was at least half as handsome as his in-game counterpart. Most men and women would be happy to jump off a cliff just to get inside his pants. She playfully raised her eyebrows. "Just small talks?" He must be real smooth. A smooth criminal.

"I'll be honest, intimacy is a word I haven't heard in such a long, long time. It's... kinda against the workplace regulation?" Moonsong continued unblinking, maintaining eye contact like it was a staring contest while smiling. "There's a lot more than just the soul, believe me." She broke the gaze, her eyes slowly wandering to the view just outside the tavern. There are a lot of people outside, couples holding hands together. Then the next menu arrived to cut the melancholy: the stuffed eggs!

The brunette took one egg and made it disappear into her mouth with one bite. "Mm, this one is also good!" She praised the food with her mouth still full. "I like the aroma. The eggs are cooked nicely. Grab these too."

She chuckled at his witty remark."Gotta agree, the world is charming indeed. I got hooked on the taste of power, a different kind of power." Her eyes glint at the word power. "But I won't say that the real world is that boring. Shittier, perhaps."

Helping people solve their problems? "So you're a repairman, got it. Then I'm a star idol singer." Moonsong threw a half-joke at him, masking it as some kind of attempt at humor. "Surely you have heard of me." Or maybe he actually did?

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

Something something lucky bastard.

Chrys was surprised when @Moonsong offered him her plate. He had thought she'd be more wary of him, maybe even annoyed at the idea of being there with him, but did not decline her effort. He would be a fool to do so. Instead, he simply gave her a nod as a token of appreciation and elegantly took a forkful of her meal.

"Oh? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I tend to eat lightly on dates to make room for other things."

Chrys tried to joke about more mature things. After all, they were mature people, right? Unfortunately, Chrys forgot how that could sound to a stranger that was very suspicious of him, especially considering his tavern has a funeral parlor attached to it. All kinds of red on his flag, though it wasn't something that he had to consider in his other life. Most of his dates were more focused on his impressive resume and, well, equally impressive physical attributes.

"I don't really keep track of those things. To me, it's never about quantity: It's all about quality. Unfortunately, my quest for my soulmate has not yet ended. Maybe today's that day?"

Chrys let out a light chuckle at her line of questioning, finding her wit very amusing. It was one of those things that charmed him the most. She was already easy on the eyes, so the physical attraction wasn't up for consideration anymore. To find out she wasn't boring or mundane or anything of the sort? Well, that just made her stock rise with him. Among other things.

"Workplace regulations? In here? Or out there? Either way, I wouldn't mind. Past working hours, everything's fair game. As long as you keep your head in the game while working, you shouldn't get distracted by more personal matters."

Chrys watched her with a smile as she offered more of her food, only noticing then that he had yet to offer her his, so he tried to make do as much as he could. But Chrys wasn't born in a generous household, so it didn't came as naturally to him as it seemed to the lovely young lady opposite him. It was a refreshing change of pace, and Chrys enjoyed every moment of it.

"You're very nurturing, aren't you? You'd make an amazing girlfriend."

He spoke those words as if they had no real weight to them, even though they did. Chrys wanted to gauge her reaction, stealing a glimpse of her face as he drank from his glass of water, pretending he was too preoccupied to notice. In his head, it was a good way to check if she was interested in him, too, even if just a little bit.

"You like having power? Being in control? That's fair."

Chrys couldn't fault her for wanting those things. He'd lived a life of privilege, and he was already bored with it, so he couldn't say anything else, especially when it came to experiences he himself had not witnessed on his own. Some people crave power because they've never had it or just want more of the same. Chrys had no idea what he truly craved. Not yet anyway.

"I suppose you could say that."

The idea of him being a common repairman was laughable, and it made him snicker under his breath. Chrys wasn't that bad with repairing things, physical items or equipment, but all he knew were basic stuff. A repairman would be offended to be compared to him, even if he was a big-shot lawyer with elite clients all over the world. Chrys would make for a terrible repairman, and he had no delusions about being better than other people in arbitrary terms. He was a great lawyer, yes, a better lawyer than an ordinary repairman, but he would also be a worse repairman than someone who's been at it for years.

"Star idol singer? A famous musician? Under what name? Maybe we've even met out there."

He raised an eyebrow as he took a bite out of his food, very much interested in this new revelation. Chrys had worked for a famous musician or two, though he couldn't imagine either of them playing this game as Moonsong, but maybe they had already cross paths one way or another. As long as he hasn't brought her back to his place, they should be good. Otherwise... He'd beat himself up, too, if he ghosted him after a few days of intimacy.

 

[Lune]

"Of course, it's a good thing. It's always good to have something more after dinner dates."

Mostly referring to ice cream desserts, she pondered a few seconds after replying. He couldn't possibly be openly suggesting to her about that, could he?

Cannibalism.

Moonsong shivered. Anyway, the cheerful girl came to their table again to bring her the next menu item; the roast goose! She wondered if it tasted anything like the real-world counterpart. She ripped one of the thighs and handed it to Chrys. He seemed confused by the concept of sharing foods on dates. For her, it was simply the joy of having to taste and feel something good together.

"Quality over quantity, eh?" Couldn't agree more. "Maybe? Maybe yes, maybe no." She teased with a wide grin, taking a bite of the roast goose leg. Again, considering this place is a funeral parlor and is also run by a (highly possible) serial killer, the food is also a killer. "Perfectly roasted." The girl praised, giving the man in from of him double thumbs up. They continued to do small talks between munching their food. After all, the night is still young.

"Out there, of course. You wouldn't mind, but I do." The brunette chuckled. "I'm always working. Whether I like it or not." And that's true. Even after she already accomplished so much, she never stopped thinking about work; the only thing that might distract her from the void in her heart.

Suddenly the dark-haired guy offered his food, but in an unnatural fashion. This guy can be rather cute when he's awkward, huh. Moonsong took a piece of his sandwich and put it all in her mouth. Delicious.

"You got it! Pretty fun, isn't it? You had never done these kinds of things on a date?"

Moonsong was still munching her food when @Chrys spoke these words to her.

You're very nurturing, aren't you? You'd make an amazing girlfriend.

You'd make an amazing girlfriend.

She froze. Her eyes piercing. Her hands trembling. Her teeth, chattering. The glasses on their table? Vibrating. The atmosphere suddenly changed. If Chrys could feel her Aura, he would have noticed that she is slowly heating up, sucking all the air in the room. It seemed that he has touched a nerve; pushed the wrong button. And it wasn't his fault, to be honest.

Someone once said that exact words to her. And where is he now?

People will leave, eventually.

It took five full seconds before the air cooled down. "Sorry." It was her only response. Nothing was elaborated any further. She had almost ruined a wholesome date because of her lifelong rage, and Moonsong felt bad about it. Grabbing a glass of water, she gulped it down before exhaling. "Now, where were we? Oh, look at that, the stew arrived. Let's taste it." The girl smiled, as if nothing had happened. They continued to converse, but maybe more carefully after what happened in a minute ago.

"That's right. Control, over destiny and fate. Of oneself, of ourselves." Moonsong muttered, looking out at the window. "If I had power, there's nothing else I couldn't have."

The guy in front of her tried to hold his laugh as she guessed if he was a repairman. So, he was a killer in real life also? In movies, they refer to these kinds of guys as 'repairman', 'fixer', or 'cleaner'. He must have realized that she has uncovered his real identity, that's why he's holding back his laugh.

And now she's asking whether they have met. And her name.

Shit, I don't want to die.

"Famous? I suppose I might be, lately." She awkwardly grinned and winked, "That'll be cheating if I let you know, wouldn't it? If you really remember my face, you'll find me out there." The attempt to prevent herself from being tracked down and killed by a handsome murderer somehow sounds like her teasing him and playing coy. "A—anyway, how's the stew?"

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

Something something lucky bastard.

Always working? That right there made Chrys think @Moonsong was a famous musician out there. Sure, in the field of art, one must always remain working to get ahead, even to just survive, but in the field of music specifically? Always working sounded to him like her music was well-received, well-craved, and well-profited. The producers she works with must view her as a golden goose, a prime commodity.

He watched her with keen eyes, taking a bite of the goose thigh she had generously gifted him. Her question reminded him of why he found this world much better than the one out there. For one, here, he was starting anew, and the people around him do not feel lesser in his presence. Out there, his resume scared, even more, the more experienced lawfolk in their field. It didn't help that his client list carried more weight than himself on his own.

"I suppose so. No, not really. People are often too intimidated to share their food with me on dates."

Chrys was about to take another bite of the thigh when he felt something amiss about the atmosphere. His eyes wandered around for a bit, finding only the other oblivious eaters and his staff chatting at the bar. When they landed on Moonsong, he quickly put two and two together, though he refrained from speaking on it before she did. Women did not like it when men would explain things to them, take over their moments, belittle their feelings, and frankly, Chrys thought it was an exercise in futility. If it's not your story, why take control? Especially if it never pays.

"Are you all right, Moonsong? I will not press further if you'd rather not discuss it, but I'm here to listen if you need a willing ear."

He simply nodded at her revelation. The quest for power wasn't something that interested Chrys. He believed that it was all illusion, power, and everything else associated with it. Of course, Chrys was born into privilege, so he knew his point of view was different from others. He'd rather not judge or fault those who craved the illusion of what they had yet to experience or what they did not have enough of. Everyone has their own story.

"You do not have power or control out there? That's interesting. I would guess you've recently acquired fame, which is why power or control might be out of your reach yet, but you'll definitely get there."

It was a tale as old as time, wasn't it? People who've just risen to the top don't always get what they truly want during the first few months, years even, but as long as they stay on top, everything else will inevitably be within their reach. Now, what they do once they have what they want, that's what'll define them.

"If you're recently famous, though, I might not know you. My clients are old families, people who were already famous, or wealthy, before I was even born. Also, the stew is great, not as great as you, I'd imagine, but suitable nonetheless."

Chrys gave her a cheeky grin, implying something else that children shouldn't think much of. Sorry, children.

 

[Lune]

"People are too intimidated? Why? You're not some kind of serial murderer, are you?" She finally mustered up enough courage to confirm her suspicion. If he was, at least in the game she have the means to stop him.

"No, I'm okay. You're nice. I shouldn't bother you with these things, especially in the middle of dinner." Moonsong clutched her left head, trying to shake off the memories of the past. Perhaps eating more of the stew will help, or sugar. "Could use something to help cool down, though. Does this place have desserts? Ice creams?" She asked @Chrys as he's the owner of the establishment.

They continued to talk about the concept of power; source of control and authority. "I don't. But maybe you do?" She shot her shot, trying to piece together his identity. "Every step upwards we take, there's still this feeling that we're still somebody's pawn. Maybe unless when we're finally the absolute top." She's no idiot; the way he spoke eloquently blatantly evoked the feeling of the high-class society. Politician? Company leader? Heir of a kingdom?

"I don't look that old, do I? Of course I'm recently famous." She chuckled while throwing another joke. "I did make sure I made an international impact in the five years I have worked." Moonsong stopped munching on her stew when he made what sounded like a cannibalism joke again. "Haha, I don't think I am that tasty. Why are you comparing me to the stew—" The girl nervously chewed on the meat, before the last two brain cells on her head finally worked extra hard and made the connections to his previous jokes after seeing the grin.

Neuron activation.

Wait.

It's all sex jokes?

She facepalmed, before looking at Chrys with an intrigued laugh. "Isn't it too soon to be talking about these things? Like, a hundred steps too soon. We met last week, and this is literally the second time we spoke." This guy is interesting. He talked about big-name clients, now she knows exactly what he is.

Billionaire playboy. And maybe Batman.

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

GTFO of here, Hu Tao and Xiao placeholders.

Chrys raised an eyebrow at @Moonsong's suspicion of him. He wasn't quite sure what to make of it. A part of him wanted to laugh it off. The other? It was offended, though not as much as he believed anyone else would be. It might just be her face, or the rest of her, but looking at her, Chrys couldn't stay or even get mad at the lovely lady.

"A serial murderer? Do I give off such aura? I'm afraid not, though I have represented one or two of those. I'm actually a lawyer."

The best one there is, he wanted to end with that line but reined himself in. It would be too arrogant, even though everyone else said it out loud, everyone but him. At best, Chrys believed himself competent in his line of work. At worst? He believed everyone else who had ever faced him on the opposite side of the courtroom was a bunch of lazy-ass morons. He would never say that out loud, though.

"You can bother me however way you wish, Moonsong. You're nice enough."

He gave her a brief smile before turning towards the counter where his two employees were still chatting. Well, one of them was. The barkeep was not interested, as always. He was also much quicker than the girl to catch Chrys' glare but he just simply nodded toward him to gesture to her that she was needed. With an excited smile, the girl rushed towards them with her pen and paper ready. "Is the couple ordering some more tasty dishes? Or are you both ready to taste each other? Hehehe."

"Two almond tofu, the specialty of the house."

"Well, actually-" Before the girl could add anything, Chrys immediately shifted his attention towards Moonsong, ignoring her further. Taking the hint, the girl hmphed and stomped away from their table, disappearing into the kitchen. Chrys was more interested in his conversation with the other...Traveler to pay any attention to the Lander girl, a sentiment that the barkeep was also quick to understand, even though the same girl did not. The establishment's owner leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms, stealing a glimpse of the view through the window.

"I see. I can't say I value the same. I believe, power and control, they're illusions at best. Like the concept of an absolute top. Whether it's of others or of the Universe in its most unfathomable incarnation, we're all pawns of a bigger game, one we may not even know of, not even beyond death."

It took him a moment to realize he was losing himself in his more philosophic thoughts. To remedy that, he brought himself back to their table by leaning forward, toward her, again, arms on the table, hands clasped, his eyes on her. Their conversation was taking on a heavier weight, which he neither hated nor loved. Chrys was just glad he was with another Traveler, which in his head, was another real person. His only method of distinguishing between the two was conversations like this.

"Not at all. You look very beautiful, neither young nor old."

And therein lied his misconception. He had thought the prize of their combat was, well, the entire shebang. Emphasis on that last syllable. And maybe on the first. Maybe she really did just want some free food.

"Ah. I had misinterpreted some things then. I thought, back during that expedition, when you so eagerly proposed this date and fought hard to win so I could be responsible for it, that you had wanted to... In any case, I wouldn't mind waiting. For you."

Wouldn't he? Really? At this point, it was hard to tell, but as long as he didn't feel too strongly to do otherwise, then waiting wouldn't be that big of a deal. Chrys was patient. That and he could always distract himself with other things.

 

[Lune]

"Oh? A lawyer? No, I actually totally called it!" No, she didn't. It explains the refined behavior, though. "Wait, you've represented some? You gotta tell me about it." She had never watched attorney/lawyer/crime k-drama, so hearing these things is pretty interesting.

"It's... a nightmare I would prefer to never come out again. Maybe one day." Moonsong hesitated. Chrys had been a good listener so far, but it was their first proper meeting and she didn't feel like dumping all the worst parts of herself at him.

Luckily, calling the waitress dispersed all the tension in the mood. "Almond tofu? That's new." She had to show some pity on how much the waitress was cut off today, grinning at her. The girl disappeared into the back of the counter as they resume the philosophical talk.

"It's impressive that you put a lot of thought into a lot of these. All other people just, yeah, barely reacted." The brunette shrugged while finishing the last of the stew, and then putting the plate to the side. Smirking at the praise, she replied. "That's good to hear. Appearance is important for my job."

What was surprising was the number of misunderstandings that lead to and added up during the date. "That's a Hollywood thing. right? People don't just directly to that on the first date, do they?" Moonsong awkwardly chuckled, stumbling through her words, only to look at a sllighly disappointed @Chrys. "Oh."

"There's process— and progress. If it's meant to be, it'll come." She muttered, her gaze slowly drifting outside towards the window. "I.. don't want to just jump into things. I've been hurt before, and it's really bad."

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

"Perhaps on our second date."

Chrys' lips curled into a playful smirk as he kept his eyes on @Moonsong, which was not that hard to do, considering she was a sight for sore eyes.

"We are having a second date, aren't we?"

He teased, though it was obvious he was enjoying himself at the moment. Whether they have a second date or not was completely irrelevant. At least for now that was true. Who knows in a day or two, after they went their separate ways and Chrys felt lonely again?

He simply nodded to acknowledge her desire to keep some things private. He respected her decision and knew full well how he'd want to do the same for some things about himself. No one is perfect. Everyone has their secrets. Maybe in time, they can share more with each other. He nodded again at her acknowledgment of his way of thinking, though mostly because he was taking a sip of his glass and could not speak in time. Chrys almost laughed when she mentioned her appearance being necessary for her line of work. It was true, but most others never admitted it outright, which made him realize she was quite special.

"Of course, and it's all right. I am nothing if not a patient man. That's...important for my job."

Chrys grinned when he parroted her sentiments from earlier, hoping the quip landed well as it had in his head. Soon, the girl returned with the almond tofu, one for each of them, still brimming with a positive smile, though she lingered toward Moonsong more than she did Chrys. She had only just opened her mouth when Chrys turned to her at the exact moment, solemn as always, and gave her a nod, a gesture of thanks, and at the same time for her to take her leave, which she did, still with a smile and a courteous bow to boot.

"There. Almond tofu. Something sweet and delectable for the lady that's also sweet and delectable."

 

[Lune]

Her slight frown turned into a smile as @Chrys lightened the mood with a joke. "I'll give no promises on that. Keep the tension interesting." She playfully joked, before chuckling. "Just kidding, I don't see why not." The date has been nothing but light-hearted banter. Perhaps they're more compatible than she initially thought.

It seems that they have been talking for hours now, the other group had left and there were lesser people outside the window. "Heh." She let out a small laugh at his attempt of replicating her response with a touch of his own personality. The waitress came with two servings of almond tofu, which is very unfamiliar to her. The supposed dessert looked like a bunch of white soft tofu coated with a slimy syrup. She raised one of her eyebrows in confusion since there was no trace of the aforementioned almond.

"I never had tofu for dessert, though. But let's try."

With a small spoon, Moonsong cut off a piece of the tofu, which separates quite easily, before putting it in her mouth, trying to feel its texture. Wait, this is not tofu. Is it jelly made of almonds?

"It is indeed sweet and delicious. I could eat a lot of them." She nodded at the man in front of her, before quickly putting more and more of the almond tofu in her mouth. If there's a weakness that anyone could note from Moonsong or her real-life counterpart, it's that she has a massive sweet tooth. It was a miracle she could maintain such a figure while sucking on lollipops all the time.

In a record time, she finished the dessert already, before realizing she might've looked uncivilized in front of her date. "To my defense, your honor, the dessert was that good." She joked.

While chatting, the brunette took a glance at the corner of her UI, which indicated the time of 10 pm. It's been three hours already? The dinner was nice, but she felt like ending it like this would be abrupt. Maybe there's still something they can do? Aside from the thing, the geo dude suggested, of course.

"Chrys," she called his name, "How about going outside and watching some stars?"

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

Chrys smiled at the idea of a second date with @Moonsong, failing to catch himself until it was too late. He tried to play it off, mostly to himself, as just a slip of the mind, maybe more of the heart. It is less lonely with someone from the outside world. He can only relate with a lander for so much.

"Well, we make a lot of them, so I guess you should really spend a lot of time with me then."

He enjoyed watching her gobble the dessert, enjoying her enjoy herself with the tasty treat. Some things were just as simple as they were rare. When she made that lawyer joke, he chuckled. He should've expected it, but he didn't, and that caught him in the funny bone.

"Hmm? That sounds like a good time. Anything to stretch my time with you."

Chrys gestured at the tavern's staff that they were done before getting out of his seat. He proceeded to help Moonsong out of hers, and once she was ready, opened the door for her to exit the building. It wasn't the first time Chrys had watched the night sky in Stokbon, but it might be the first time that he was actually seeing the beauty of what it had to offer. It helped that he was right next to another beauty. He smiled as he stole a glimpse of her.

"What do you like about the stars, Moonsong?"

 

[Lune]

The brunette playfully scoffed, "But then you'll say I only come to you for the almond." After making sure the plates are tidy on the side of the table, @Chrys helped her out of her seat before exiting the building. The night wind was cold, but refreshing. The girl stretched her arms as soon she was outside, walking a few feet across the establishment to lean on a railing.

The night sky of Stokbon was not particularly beautiful or anything, but tonight all the stars seemed to gather to form a beautiful painting in the sky. Maybe a higher power was blessing this date.

"What do you like about the stars, Moonsong?"

"They are supposedly dead some million years ago, right?" Or that was maybe what Wikipedia said. Don't blame her, she dropped out of high school.

"Yet here they are, still shining beautifully for us for the next million years or so." She stared longingly at the night sky for a while, before continuing. "When I finally become a star, I want to be something that is still shining even across the next generations, for everyone to see."

Her motive for her quest for power was suddenly clear; the girl just wanted to be remembered. In these fleeting worlds, a legacy was all she needed.

The silence went on for several seconds, before Moonsong turned to the man standing beside her, showing her most sincere smile. "Thank you, Chrys. For this occasion. For this moment. For letting me confide in you."

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

Moonsong vs. Stardance

Chrys continued to smile as he followed after @Moonsong, but not before turning to the staff and giving them a nod, a gesture signifying that their pair was done and may not come back, that they can clean the table for others now, and that they did a good job tonight. He had never been that verbose when it came to an appreciation of others' hard work, believing that his words cost more than nothing and that no one outside of a courtroom needed to be bombarded by complex sentences strung together to simply bulk up a simple sentiment, so the tavern and funeral parlor's staff were well used to this kind of appreciation by one of their two masters.

"You had me at you'll come to me. As long as I get to spend time with you, the finer details are unimportant."

With his hands clasped behind his back, Chrys contemplated her sentiment, watching her face in silent delight before shifting his attention toward the sky as well, observing the scattered light in the expansive blanket that was the night sky.

"Aren't you already one? A famous musician, a star in your own right, and a lovely woman, a shining beacon of hope and love amidst the greater void of meaningless existence. I'm sure a lot of people already look up to you. Like the two of us at these stars."

There was no envy or malice in his voice. In fact, it was perhaps more supportive than anything. He was truly very appreciative of her, in both her personal and professional lives. She wouldn't be the first artist he'd ever dated, as he had been in a relationship with an illustrator, a painter, whose main focus was watercolor. That was until she expired.

"Any time, Moonsong. I will always be here for you."

He turned to her just in time to witness her smile, and for a moment, it felt to Chrys that time had stopped, that the world had taken its reprieve of spinning on its heel, around a flaming orb, to perhaps its doom, allowing him millennia of respite from all the gloom and doom, with only that smile, her smile, to make everything feel worthwhile. Chrys smiled back at her, a hand brushing a stray strand of her hair away from her face and tucking it behind an ear. Just like in that movie with all those zombies, which he had not yet seen but he did represent one of the actors versus a lot of dog owners.

"But I should be the one to thank you. For giving me a moment of your time. For letting me experience tonight with you."

It seemed like the perfect moment for a kiss, and Chrys felt himself move closer to her, his lips inching to press themselves against hers, but in the end, he managed to rein himself in, stop the collision from happening, and respect her personal space. That time will come. When she's ready. Instead, he just looked into her eyes and smiled at the universes behind them. Beauty in the eyes of the beholder.

 

[Lune]

"Nice to hear that I'm a star in at least one person's mind." The brunette joked, turning into him. There wasn't anything else reflected on his stare; only her and her alone. The infinity stars in the sky paled in comparison to how bright his eyes were, slowly pulling her into him like they were black holes. She would let him tuck her hair behind her ear, allowing him to see the woman clearly.

For a minute, there was no Moonsong; all the man could see were the eyes of one particular Dayeon Song, looking back at him like she had just found something. The woman jokingly scoffed at him, "You know, I really thought that I wouldn't understand you because you're kind of weird," playing with her hair, she continued. "But I guess you're a weirdo that clicked with me."

Inching closer and closer, they kept locking eyes, the golden gaze of thousand stories meeting the mysterious purple gems. If he went to kiss her here, she wouldn't even mind. But the man respected her and her values, stopping and just looking at her lovingly; a gentlemanly gesture she would never forget. Moonsong smiled, as if @Chrys just passed a test, going over and above her expectations.

In her heart, she already knew just by looking at his eyes. This man is a real person, searching for a special something. And so, she respected the man back, reassuring him that she would not play with his feelings. "I promise you, that I will spend more time with you."

A promise most treasured, made under the shining stars. Genuine, like ones made by your childhood friend back in the time when everything was happier.

"Let's meet again, okay?"

The songstress took a single step back, before bowing deeply to him. To others, it might seem too formal, but there was a lot of gratitude poured into that one motion. They locked eyes for the last time, before she turned back and walked away, slowly disappearing into the night illuminated by the beautiful glitters.

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

"At least one person that you know of."

Correcting anyone wasn't something Chrys enjoyed outside of work. In fact, he only enjoyed it when he was doing the same to opposing lawyers or their clients. Besides that, it seemed futile to him, as he would not gain anything from helping anyone without a hefty sum in return. Yet this time, it felt right. It felt good, and Chrys genuinely hoped she would see what he, and those others, saw in her.

"I'm certain there are others like me who consider you a star."

Chrys simply smiled at her calling him a weirdo. Not a lot of people have called him that in the other world, but that's most probably just because they see him first, perhaps not even getting the chance to know him deeper, and what they see is usually the intimidating lawyer with a very impressive resume, not a strange hermit who lost a sparring session and as punishment ate a sentient mushroom during an expedition.

His smile slowly dwindled at her promise but he managed to keep it from fully dying, retaining a shell of its former self. Promises are always meant to be broken. He's been on both sides and knows full well how taxing keeping a promise was and how disappointing breaking one always ended up being. He has even yet to move on from a broken one from years ago. Chrys no longer expected more promises to be kept after that tragedy.

"Of course, Moonsong. Stay safe out there."

He just stood there, watching her disappear into the night. The last time he saw someone disappear from his life, he couldn't do anything but watch them go. If he could have, he would have fought for her, against her, though in the end, it would have been a selfishness that he would later regret. What do they say about people you love but want to leave? Let them go and if they come back, they're yours? Something like that.