Private Eastern Brisshal Interesting Times

[Ash Vargold]

Ash waved as he watched yet another person walk into the woods, his smile dropping as soon as they were out of sight. Another person, walking into the flytrap that was Terrasphere. Another name on his friends list for him to watch, dreading the day it went grey for good.

Sometimes he hated this self-inflicted "job". But if not him, who else?

"...I should take a break."

There was a small tavern in Honeyhome, one of several Traveler-friendly businesses that remained. The Faldereni patrols had calmed down lately, in no small part thanks to the efforts of other, more aggressive Travelers making it clear that they wouldn't tolerate them. It was also a place with access to particularly clean water, something he was fairly sure was due to some now very illegal magitech.

The door squeaked as he walked in. He nodded briefly to the innkeep before taking a seat at a table near a small group of chattering adventurers. He took a deep breath as he let the sound of the tavern wash over him. It was far from enough to still the dissonant beat of his heart, but it helped some. 'Maybe I should send Hanno a message and see how he's doing...'

@CamusVaric

 

[CamusVaric]

He never would have thought he would come back to this place. The starting location for the journey. Hadn't he taken hunting rabbits as his first task in this game so long ago. It mattered not of what he had done to start, times had changed. Hell, he himself had changed since he first started off here. He didn't take some random stick upon the ground as a weapon, he in fact had his own sword that he had taken to customizing as he could. Yet, here he was again in Honeyhome. Much like its name, it provided a home-- a starting place before new players started on their adventures. He didn't take the time to do a lot here. He simply came, saw, and went. Yet he was curious perhaps to see how things had changed.

So here he was making his way through the streets. He had made a pact of his own to explore all that Terrasphere had to offer, and that meant coming back to where it all began. Crimson eyes taking in what he could, until he located the small tavern. A soft little hum coming from the silver haired elf as he walked in. He had come in not too long after the other had. It might seem as if he was following the other , but it by pure and utter chance that it had come to this. The place was fairly packed, the sounds of various conversations drifting into his ears. Hints of people getting to know others or people catching up, yet one table seemed to lack conversation. No talking , perhaps he was waiting for someone to join him.

Some might leave the lone beastie alone , let him enjoy peace and quiet perhaps. Some might go to strike up a friendly conversation -- just in case the beastie was one longing to speak but couldn't find words. Camus , well he enjoyed poking at people-- one could say. He went towards the table that the other male was seated at. Most normal people might ask if ' the seat was taken' before sitting and bothering the poor soul. No, Camus didn't do that. He simply sat down with a smile on his lips. "You don't have to be alone anymore. No need to be a lone wolfie anymore. Name's Camus, and you look like someone in need of someone to talk to. So it is your lucky day~" Yes, Camus was full of himself. Yes, he had already given the poor soul a nickname -- wolfie. It was probably better than him calling him a beastie though.

@Ash Vargold

 

[Ash Vargold]

Ash was used to being left alone at the tavern. Even if he weren't open a Traveler, he was pretty good at putting off an aloof enough air that people generally didn't try to interact. So when someone suddenly sat down at his table he was more than a little startled. Even more when he started talking in a way that was just a little... suggestive?

"Uh... can I help you?"

Despite his best efforts, he couldn't hide his confusion. He'd never seen this man around Honeyhome before. White hair and red eyes made him think "player", but one could never be sure in this game.

"I was doing alright," he started, ignoring the disagreement his heart was beating in his chest, "...but I'm not going to chase you away. Ash Vargold."

There was something about the guy's manner that put him on edge. But friendliness to even the oddest people was baked into Ash's nature by now, as was the neutral half-smile on his face. "Camus, was it? What brings you to Honeyhome of all places?"

@CamusVaric

 

[CamusVaric]

To say Camus was an odd one, well it would be an understatement. He was much like that saying about the box of chocolates --except those chocolates were the different types of interactions one might have from him. He was , if anything, unpredictable Crimson eyes watched the other , it seemed he might have caused the other to enter a state of confusion. After all, the other couldn't truly hide it-- even if he seemed to be trying to do so. Than again confusion wasn't a bad thing-- anyone might be should a random person come up and plop themselves down and begin talking. Yet this man seemed to be a kind soul, one who perhaps couldn't bat him away. Oh he smiled at the thought--- if that thought was true, well he might just be having fun.

Thanks to his hemomancy, he could hear the off beating of the other's heart. No no, he wouldn't play with the other like that. Though he had never truly gotten to play around with another too much. No save it for defense and not make people toys with it. Manipulation and a silver tongue , well that did well enough. He gave a soft chuckle "I would hope not. You seemed like you were in need of company. Thus why I thought I would do the right thing and start up a conversation. Hmmm, not the best at it -- perhaps. Though I really do mean no harm." That smile only seemed to grow a bit.

"Yes, Camus would be my name. Hmm what brings be to Honeyhome. I'm not exactly new to the game, if that is what you are trying to ask without asking out right. Call it a visit to hmm" he started and slightly bit his lip. "Walk down memory lane , I suppose that is a good phrase. You see I enjoy exploring and my goal is to see all Terra has to offer. It has been some time since I was a rookie and starting out here. Wanted to see the changes here myself. So, tell me why it seems you have made yourself a home here? I suppose it isn't the worse, but there are a lot grander places to spend your time. So what made you choose Honeyhome. If you don't mind answering a curious inquiry." He knew how to tell the slightest details and use it to connect to a larger map. The male need not say his home was here, no it was all in the smallest details. People's reactions were easy to grasp, all one needed to do was look close enough or listen close enough. No commentary from inside his mind -- perhaps a good thing.

@Ash Vargold

 

[Ash Vargold]

So he was a player. At least Ash hadn't lost that touch. "I sort of guessed. You don't have the look of a new player." He had decent gear and didn't seem overwhelmed. Just... weird, and looking to talk. "Sorry, I'm not trying to interrogate you or anything - I was just curious. More veteran players normally don't come back here. Recent events notwithstanding."

Ash probably didn't need to mention that he was an exception to that rule.

"I wouldn't say this is my 'home'," Ash said, motioning towards a waitress with one hand. "I just... patrol here. Make sure newbies know what they're getting into before they go out and start fighting bears."

Ash paused, then sighed. "That, and there aren't a lot of choices to set up for players right now. Astorea's in pieces, and Falderen's getting anxious about what we can do."

The waitress, a young human woman, approached with the usual empty smile of a retail worker. "Hello. How may I help you?"

"Some water and stew, please,Ash said, then glanced Camus' way. "Did you want something?"

@CamusVaric

 

[CamusVaric]

The other was polite , even seeming to apologise about the more 'interrogation' type question. Though really it was nothing to apologise for. He was rather glad he didn't look like a new player. He remembered those days, his first time in Terra he had picked up a stick to use as his weapon. It was actually amusing to think of it, he went through maybe three sticks. He had at that point taken beast arts , all so he could train beasties. Rabbits, dire wolves and the crow. Though things had thus changed when things got shut down and started up again. He couldn't complain too much .

"No, no. You're fine, curiosity isn't a bad trait. Well I'm not exactly your normal veteran player."

Nor was this one, two different exceptions to that rule. Crimson eyes stayed trained on Ash as he spoke to him, stating how this place wasn't his home per say. He snorted slightly at his comment of fighting bears. Though before he could reply, the waitress approached.

"I'll take the same actually."

He went about speaking as she went to go put in their orders.

"Now it is actually amusing to me that you state newbies going to fight bears. For me -- I dealt with dire wolves and than of course rabbits. Though the latter not exactly the type of beastie that would be in the category as bears. The dire wolves-- yeah they would be."

He had met some of the party that he had ended up forming with during the dire wolves. Two out of the four that he had been with. Though they had all gone their own ways in the end. The two he had met up after coming back, he didn't really know what was going on with them really. He had gained some things in exchange for the two he never met again-- though he wouldn't say he preferred the exchange too much.

"So explain to me why you chose to patrol here and help out the newbies. I wouldn't say you look the type to be forced into it. No-- either it was a choice or you have a guilty conscious and believe doing good will clear it. Which is correct?"

@Ash Vargold