Complete Eastern Brisshal Full Course Tour

[Toko]

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"Yeah, although it was still kinda cool cool..." There was a certain admiration towards the game devs as Toko had been discovering the game, she couldn't imagine the lengths they must have gone through to make everything so realistic... it must have taken a vast amount of time and research to accomplish such organic interactions with the NPCs of the world. "... until we got told about the death thing."

After that conversation with the Lion Arms the Lepus wasn't sure what to think of it all, though for the time being it seemed best to just pin that thought away and come back to it later. A wide smile was given when Ru reacted positively to the suggestion she had made, the prayer bead bracelet really looked like it had been made just for him, before she patted his shoulder sympathetically as they both noticed the price of the accessories in question.

"It's okay, maybe there's some quests and stuff we can do together... that way we'll speed through it and get the gold faster~" And, of course, not die in the process.

The rumbling stomach of her new friend soon had Toko's own growling in unison, reminding the Lepus that their original stop had been meant to be the bakery—not the armor or the accessory shop—before the beastwoman bounded over to the shop keep and asked for directions. Once sure about the path they needed to take Toko grabbed on to Ru's hand on their way out to lead him.

"Come on, it's time for some sandwiches and good tea. This time I actually know the way, I promise."

Thankfully the way was mostly straight, with only a right turn needed a couple of blocks down before the scent of fresh baked goods could be perceived by anyone nearby. "Ah, there it is!" Excitedly the Lepus pointed towards the small and modest building by the corner—the shop having become a personal favorite of Toko in a very short amount of time.

"It looks very simple, but I promise the sandwiches are absolutely delicious and fresh, and their baked sweets are to die for~"

@Ru Ning

 

[Ru Ning]

"Alright, alright. No dying. At least when avoidable. And restricted to two max!"

Mirth formed on the lepus' face as he feigned shock at the thought of virtual death. Though the previous warnings had not fallen on deaf, fluffy bunny ears, it was still difficult to digest seriously. The thought of virtual reality affecting the real was a rather abstract concept, one still distant from any consequential train of thought.

A burst of laughter sounded from Ru as they traversed down the well beaten path together. Their destination within reach and marked clearly by the aroma of freshly baked goods wafting in the air, an exclamation of joy was made as his white haired beastkin pointed out the shop. It was a small cabin style home with forest green tiling, repurposed into a storefront. Smoke drifted lazily from the chimney as the dull din of a crowd could be heard while approaching. Upon hearing her promise of delectable treats, the gaunt lepis nodded enthusiastically, his eyes gleaming with mirth.

"Well that's unfortunate. We came here for pastries but to honor our previous agreement, we'll have to pass since they're… to die for."

Smugly proud of his own inane joke and deadpan delivery, a playful wink was made at Toko as he'd nod for her to follow. Upon entering the wooden double doors, a sense of euphoria overtook the two as various delectable scents flooded their nostrils. Taking a moment to inhale deeply while relishing the sensation, he'd reach out for two menus set atop a stand before moving to a table situated near a window.

"Is here alright? I think the street view is rather cozy."

After reaching a mutual consensus, he'd take a seat, stretching weary legs. Eyes still lingering about various parts of the eatery, they'd eventually settle upon the menu as he browsed with an expression of utmost seriousness. Clearly than important decision was at hand.




@Toko

 

[Toko]

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"Pffft no way we're skipping the baked goods in this place!" The Lepus chuckled at the joke of her companion as they reached the bakery, before presenting her own solution to the conundrum. "Besides we can sacrifice one death to the delicious sweets of this place... Esther's skills are so good it'd be a shame not to try them."

Hey, sometimes humor could help people come to terms with unexpected news... and since right now neither of them felt like going down a metaphorical rabbit hole of speculation as to how a game oculd kill you in real life this seemed like the best next thing. A wave was given to the familiar woman behind the counter, one of the Landers that Toko had slowly started to bond more and more with the more she stuck around Honeyhome helping those that lived here.

"Yeah, here's perfect~"

There was a nod of approval as Ru pointed out to an unoccupied corner table, the position offering a good view into the Landers and Travelers that walked up and down the street as they began reviewing their menus. "... huh, that's a new item that wasn't here before." A hand pointed at the menu to highlight the item for Ru, the honey cakes description below them already making Toko's mouth water in response.

@Ru Ning

 

[Ru Ning]

"Oooh, a sweet tooth huh? Feeling something a bit more savory myself."

A nod of approval was given as Ru looked down and began to seriously review the items available. With such a large selection of baked goods ranging, it became readily apparent that his decision could not be made easily. Head tilted with confusion as his brows furrowed to scrutinize the menu, a finger continued to peruse the contents as the lepus voiced indecision.

"I think I want a croissant or a bagel... but sweets sound so good too. Wait— why not both?!?..."

He'd eventually settle upon an "everything" croissant sprinkled, the top coated in a mix of caraway seeds, garlic flakes, onion flakes, poppy seeds and sesame seeds. The filling? Capers, dill cream cheese, smoked salmon and pickled red onions. As an added surprise? An almond sponge cake soaked in expresso-brandy syrup, layered with chocolate ganache and coffee buttercream. The dessert looked absolutely wonderful in the image provided, a perfect marriage between rich creaminess with a hint of astringent bitterness. After all, it wasn't as if calories were a concern! It was time to dine to his heart's content!

Shortly after placing their orders, he'd fold the menu, tucking it to the side while diverting his attention back to his white haired companion. When they had left the Lion's Arm branch, several options had been presented to them regarding the other factions.

"Hmm… the map we got earlier said we can go to the Explorer's League, Adventurer's Guild… or MIT. Huh, I wonder if that last one is a coincidence or not? They sound pretty self explanatory from the footnotes provided. Do any shout out to you in particular?"

@Toko

 

[Toko]

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"Hahah, if only... I've always prefered savory things too, but I make an exception for Esther and her honey cakes."

A chuckle was given as the fellow Lepus decided he'd just have it all instead of choosing, and Toko also turned to the menu to see what tickled her fancy for the day. She'd already had her usual breakfast earlier in the day, before the Lion Arms' had suddenly kidnapped her into a tavern, and so that left her with new options to explore.

First up were the five pickled treasures, a nice way to start opening up her appetite and also something she could share with her new friend. That was followed by the omelette rice, a very simple dish that somehow never got old as far as Toko was concerned.

Of course the honey cakes made their appearance, Toko wasn't about to skip out on them, but this time they were accompanied by a mint jelly. Mint was always a welcome addition on hot days such as this one, not to mention that Toko couldn't get enough of the feeling it left in her mouth when she drank some apple cider in between bites.

"Itadakimass!"

@Ru Ning

 

[Ru Ning]

A gulp couldn't help but surface as Ru watched his companion dig in heartily. The presentation and coloration of the food was so vibrant and picturesque. He'd look down at his own plates before nodding with appreciation and seizing half a sandwich in hand. Softly inhaling the aroma of warm, freshly baked bread, he'd nod once in agreement, taking a bite to relish it slowly.

"Mhmm!"

Vaguely discernable sounds continued to spout forth from the lepus as he wriggled with glee in his chair while basking in a rush of flavor. This Esther had truly outdone herself! After taking several moments to chew and swallow, he'd let out a breath of satisfaction, a hand rising slightly to wipe away a smudge of cream cheese stuck on the corner of his mouth. After taking a few sips of his own cooled beverage, a content grin was plastered upon Ru's face. His eyes continued to watch his white haired companion with glee.

"Gaaah, that's the stuff! You're right, Esther really is the best!"

Several nods of affirmation were given.

"Did you have enough to eat? Wanna share?"

His question was most likely unfounded, but the man had noticed a distinct lack of meat. Was she a vegetarian? Either way, the lepus slid forth his dessert plate, the cake glistening brilliantly atop it, taunting, tempting, and perhaps beckoning to Toko.


@Toko

 

[Toko]

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The lack of meat had been completely unintentional by the Lepus, she had just randomly picked and chosen whatever had fancied her mood at the time, but Toko wasn't about to complain in the slightest. The food was delicious as always, and as far as Toko was concerned Esther would always have her gold in exchange for a delicious and warm meal.

"Told you~ No one beats Esther in the kitchen, much less when it comes to baking!"

A soft chuckle came frm behind the counter, the Lepus loud outburst having caught more than just the ears of her table mate, before the older woman smiled appreciatively in their direction. "Can I, really?!" Perhaps Ru had noticed the occasional glances Toko kept giving his dessert, but whatever the case when the beastkin offered to share the fighter wasn't about to turn the offer down.

"Here, you try some of mine too then! Fair trade~"

With that she pushed her mint jelly to the middle of the table, before taking a nice piece of the cake with her tablespoon and munching down on it.

"Mmm! Oishiiiiii~"

@Ru Ning

 

[Ru Ning]

“Ahah, alright. Sharing is caring after all.”

Not one to be shy with food and silver spoon in tow, Ru carefully took a small scoop of the mint jelly. After bringing it closer to his nose, the lepus sniffed gingerly, taking in wafts of the aroma while staring at it curiously. Only then did he savor a bit, nibbling it off his spoon while allowing the flavors to linger. Slowly but surely, his gaunt complexion gained a bit of color, eyes growing wide with delight.

“Oooh! This is really nice! It’s not too sweet, and the after taste is refreshing. Smooth texture too… What a great palate cleanser!”

Praises exclaimed loudly, a hearty thumbs up was given towards the elderly woman as he continued to nod enthusiastically. It was only after all their plates had been wiped clean that a bit of sanity returned to Ru’s eyes. Leaning back happily in his eat, he’d stretch slowly as if to placate his stomach from open rebellion.

“Ah, so about earlier! Which group did you want to go look at next? Seeing your beat things up…”

He pointed at her rabbit like claws.

“Maybe the Adventurer’s Guild?”

@Toko

 

[Toko]

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"Onaka ippaaaiii...!"

A sigh of pure bliss escaped the Lepus as she leaned back on her chair, stretching her arms out while proclaiming her fullness to the world. The food had been absolutely delicious, and a part of the fighter was even ready for a good and well deserved nap...

"Mmm...? Oh, right, the factions!" Such was the true power of Esther, the Lepus could even forget about the main goal for the day if she was not careful enough. "Yeah, I heard a few people speaking about the Guild before... now I know they probably meant that faction."

It definitely called out to her the most, though Toko wasn't sure if it was the closest one to their location... or if maybe they should stop by others first.

"There was also that one that sounded like a real world university or something... MYB or something?" The Lepus frowned, a part of her sure that probably wasn't the correct spelling, before shrugging it off. "There's also that other one... the one for exploration, ah, the League was it?"

@Ru Ning

 

[Ru Ning]

A happy belly was one of the crucial keys to living a good life. Having lived by this tenant for as long as he could remember, a grin crept across the lepus' face as he watched his companion stretch with content. It was only with his reminder that the two had finally staved off the ever looming food coma that lurked around the corner.

"Ah, so that's what the Guild was referencing. I thought it was something like player guilds you see in other games. I guess that makes sense. It wouldn't be very fair if only a single group of players had all the power."

Slowly but surely, Ru's face showed enlightenment. A nod of understanding was made as the confusion in his eyes cleared away. While contemplating this bit of news, he'd continue twirling a spoon while staring wistfully at the empty plates. Eventually deciding against caving in to his gluttonous desires, the gaunt lepis tilted his head in confusion at Toko's explanation.

"Hmm… that doesn't sound quite right. Maybe it's M.I.B? That was a thing a long time ago, right? And yeah! There's the Explorer's League! They're supposed to map out the frontier and unlock new content for everyone to play. Doesn't that sound really cool?!?"

The amazement and wonder in his eyes readily apparent, both golden orbs twinkled at Toko as if anticipating her agreement. After all, who didn't have a bit of wanderlust to discover the unknown?


@Toko

 

[Toko]

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MYB... MIB... for some reason it still seemed off to Toko, but she couldn't quite figure it out. Oh well, it's not like it mattered too much anyways, she wasn't really too interested in any university like thing—she had done more than enough of that for this life time and the next.

"Yeah that does sound cool, especially considering how realistic this game is... think they could find something out there to explain it?" Maybe that was the point of it, figure out what made this world so organic... and maybe that way avoid any more death issues in the real world? "Ah, but I think I do like the guild the most... it feels like a jack of all trades type of thing, so hopefully there's always something happening to keep it new and exciting?"

It had also sounded like the Guild was the one giving out quests for rewards and such... and among them there were also Lander requests too. Sure, they might not pay too much but for the Lepus that wasn't too much of an issue. Most Landers were willing to provide a roof over her head for a night, or a belly food of a warm home cooked meal, in exchange for help with relatively simple and mundane situations... and Toko was becoming rather fond of this town too.

"They both sound like really good picks for sure."

@Ru Ning

 

[Ru Ning]

It was a train of thought the lepus hadn't pursued yet. Was the purpose of the Explorer's League to actually uncover the mysteries surrounding the world's framework rather than the world itself? The question would have to be shelved for now though considering his ignorance regarding the organization. It was a question to be probed once they arrived at the nearest head quarters.

"Alright, it's settled then! I'm also curious to see what types of people we'll run into at the Guild. Hopefully they're more… normal than those Lion's Arms people? I thought adventuring guilds were supposed to be more rowdy though?..."

Some confusion was expressed on Ru's face as his head tilted slightly while pondering over the matter. Not lingering on it for too long though, he'd place several of his few remaining coins on the table while waving amicably to Esther, bidding her farewell. Chair tucked away to it's original position, he'd turn to his white haired companion while posing a basic question.

"Shall we?"

A thought struck the man as he'd pause, scurrying over to the elderly owner to ask for directions before he'd return back with a light hearted laugh.

"OKAY, let's try that again. Shall we?"

@Toko

 

[Toko]

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"Mmm, who knows...?" A soft shrug rolled from the Lepus' shoulders as she thought about Ru's question, given the latest things she'd seen perhaps there was some truth to the "don't judge a book by its cover" saying after all. "I mean knights are supposed to be civil and courteous after all... but the Lion Arms' members seemed far from that, ne?"

Maybe not everyone in the Guild would be rowdy... and, by the sounds of it, they were even paying the pension for the elderly Zeus member of the Lions too! Toko felt compelled to give them a try before actually writing out the Guild although she had certainly written out MIT a while ago from her list of potential choices.

"Pffft yeah, let's try that again... you got the directions this time?" Light hearted banter that was accompanied by a soft chuckle as Toko stood from her seat and followed Ru. "Who do you want to visit first then, Ru-niisan?"

@Ru Ning

 

[Ru Ning]

Though a bit cliché, the thought was interesting enough. If the knights in this world were thugs and the mercenaries the saints, then what were the bookworms over at the research institute? Had he made a mistake in his judgement? The possibility of a bunch of nerds partying it up and going wild forced an audible chuckle as Ru mused to himself. Unfortunately it was too late for their redemption in his mind as the lepus too had already written them off purely due to his aversion to continue any more studies, in game or out.

"Ahh… choices, choices. I definitely don't want to study anymore. I did enough of that to last me this life time, and the next two we get in game… ahah."

Considering her previous words, it was apparent Toko had already begun leaning towards the Guild. That made the choice simple. His head nodded with decisiveness, taking only a split moment to decide. After opening the door for the two, he'd point south away from the church, indicating their destination.

"I know the way! Let's go see the Guild next, yeah? You seemed pretty excited about it. And who knows? Maybe we'll find some fun people there, hopefully normal but fun people."

@Toko

OOC: Not sure what to do when we arrive? Is this a good time to wrap things up?

 

[Toko]

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"Definitely... I did enough studying in my childhood to last me a couple of life times as well." A soft chuckle erupted from the Lepus as the matter was touched, as cool as MIT might sound it just wasn't the cup of tea either rabbitfolk favored. "Might make my two lives here last longer... but the cost of that is more than I'm willing to pay."

She'd rather take her chances in the outdoors, exploring everything The World here had to offer them, instead of leafing through thousands of pages in books... worse of all was how realistic they would probably feel too, that thought alone sent shivers down the beastfolk's spine. "Yeah, that sounds like a great idea—" Toko nodded enthusiastically, eager to follow Ru to their next destination, before the Lepus suddenly paused as she looked at something in her screen... after a fee seconds Ru would no doubt figure she was checking something in her UI my the hand movements.

"Aaaah...! Shimatta, I totally forgot!" Panic crossed her features, before Toko gave an apologetic bow to her fellow beastkin. "I had some real life plans now, gomen!!!"

Thank the gods she had placed an alarm on her VR before login into TerraSphere, otherwise she would've probably forgotten entirely about the photo shooting session of the latest ceramic pieces one of her ojiisan had planned for today. His works in particularly often sell well on Nao's website too, which was a win-win for the both of them.

Notice

Toko has sent you a friend request.

"Gomen'nasai, Ru-oniisan! I hope we can play again sometime though!"

@Ru Ning

 

[Ru Ning]

"Ah… Okay, have fun."

A look of confusion struck the lepus as he watched his companion abruptly vanish. A dumbstruck daze remained plastered on his face as he stood in the street, alone, taking a moment to process her words. Eyes fixated on the request notification left behind, he'd scratch his head for a moment while shrugging helplessly. The timing wasn't the worst.

Checking his own clock, a heavy sigh sounded from Ru as the time reminded him of his own obligations. Though not the most eager person to go to work, bills needed to be paid and meals eaten. Without hesitation, he'd accept the request, the system responding in kind with a happy blip as a new name was added to his list.

"I guess I should get going too. Today's schedule seemed rather packed… it's a pity I can't just listen to meetings while logged in here."

With that, the gaunt lepis too would promptly log out, securing his body in a tucked away corner of the street to avoid any unwanted collisions upon returning. As for the other factions, that would have to wait for another time.

[Finis]​