Complete Private Eastern Brisshal Money doesn't grow on trees!

[Chako]

Chako was on Honeyhome's plaza doing what had become a habit for her recently... Playing her newly-acquired harp!

It wasn't as profitable as she hoped at first, guess her mom was right with the whole thing of working with music being unstable, but... Well, new Starcalled didn't have a good grasp of money, so those were her main targets! Play music that newbies will like, and money will flow!

And with her lovely diet of wild fruits, Chako could slowly, but surely accumulate money from donations for her bardic work, and work up enough cash to get a harp bag made so that she could stop storing it in her inventory!

... And then she could maybe, finally, start eating something other than wild fruits. Because she was really tired of it.

So... Either way, current song was...

Spoiler: Song

Chako just kept on playing it. One note at a time, just making sure the song flowed in nicely.

The children had already given up on betting if she was going to mess up on her songs too by now... It became obvious that she was much better at the harp than at dancing. And well, Chako could always appreciate the tacit acknowledgement of her audience, that was for sure.

With a smile on her face, she kept on playing.

@Rhela Elahka

 

[Rhela Elahka]

Of course, there soon came an additional sound from behind @Chako. Not the sound of humming or anything of that nature. But an instrument, specifically wind it seemed, given the sound. The person wasn't great but it seemed they at least knew the song on hand enough to want to join in. Soon enough the person playing would be stood just beside Chako.

Blue eyes glancing over at the taller cat girl with a smile on her face while she kept her instrument in her mouth as she played an accompanying tune. Rhela of course had no free hand to greet the girl. So she just nodded her head lightly. She looks like she's been around the block a couple times at this point, and has some new skills to show for it. Though it seems her skills didn't revolve around music, unlike Chako. It had been some time since they had seen eachother and this was how Rhela greeted her?!

 

[Chako]

Chako was instantly annoyed at the sound of a different person playing the same song as her, but off-tune... What!? Wanna steal my customers!? Not that Chako had any person throwing money at her donation bag right now, but she was still pissed off, Go play your ocarina somewhere else! It was surprisingly easy to recognize the instrument with her ears, I'm here first! The money thrown here is mine!

... Well, Chako didn't look at the newcomer though, nor did she say anything... Though she was about to pop a vein in her forehead.

Still, she just kept on playing and hoped the person would go away when no attention was given.

... Except that, by the end of the song, the other person hadn't gone away, so... Instead of starting a new song, Chako sighed and turned to the side, "What's the big idea?" She was about to tell the person to go away and stop bothering her... Only to see the person standing over here was actually Rhela.

"Oh, hey! It's been a while!" She quickly stored her harp in her inventory and got up from her bench. She also picked up the completely empty money bag and shoved it into her pocket, "Didn't know you still hanged around Honeyhome, or that you were learning an instrument. How's it going?" Chako smiled. Money could be made some other time, after all. She could talk to someone she hadn't seen in months instead of playing more today.

@Rhela Elahka

 

[Rhela Elahka]

Rhela couldn't help but chuckle as @Chako looked at her with ire. "Yo, Chako, it has been a while, huh?" She kept her smile as she stowed her ocarina on her belt. "Well, I got it mostly on a whim about 3 days ago, about the time I got one irl as well. Wanted to see what it was like to play an instrument." She leans back a bit before taking the time to sit on the nearby bench, her tail in a gentle sway behind her. "I've been well, no progress on my lil hunt though."

She looks to the sky a moment, her pupils narrowing into those usual cat-slit eyes customary to one of her kind. "I don't really hang around Honeyhome too often, but I visit every now and then. It's nice and peaceful for the most part. I take it you still hang around her pretty often?"

 

[Chako]

"Oh, no wonder..." it sounded like that, Chako stopped herself from completing the phrase... Not a good idea to badmouth a beginner. Right, right. Gotta be the nice senior and praise her for trying, "You seem to have... Gotten the gist of blowing into it already!" Great job. This totally sounded like genuine praise. You should become a music teacher, Chako. She mocked herself.

She figured it was best to move on to the next topic before she made any more blunders, "Hunt? You wanted to kill some big game or something?" Chako asked... Before she finally remembered and slapped her fist into her open hand, "Oh, right! Searching for rumors and stuff!"

Chako sat back down as Rhela had sat next to her, "Seems like the death thing is real. Wild stuff. Dunno how it works though, maybe it's because everything is too real. Perhaps your brain just feels the death so much that you actually die for real." That's the best explanation she could come up with at least... Which made the other VRMMOs being so bad make a little more sense. Especially when considering how terrifying things could be here, and how trauma seemed to carry over.

It was actually a bit bothersome to talk about those things though... Too immersion-breaking. There must be a better topic to work with, "Oh, I spend most of my time in Arcia here. I like exploring the surroundings, but I always come back here at the end of the day. I know basically everyone who lives here by name, and I can recognize new Starcalled at a glance. It's kinda funny to see how much they dissonate from everybody else.

"... I'm technically a member of the Explorer's Guild though, so I think I was supposed to go farther than the surroundings of Honeyhome, but... Nah, don't wanna!" Chako shrugged. She was pretty happy just looking at the peaceful surroundings of the small village.

@Rhela Elahka

 

[Rhela Elahka]

Chako's response to Rhela only having recently gotten into playing the instrument got her to laugh rather hard. It took her a couple seconds to realize that @Chako had actually changed the subject, even! But she picked up on it again and looked to the taller cat girl. "Have you met anyone who's-... nevermind, probably not best to talk about this stuff..." She realizes.

She closes her eyes before turning her head up, enjoying the sun on her face. "It is a wonderful place to spend time, as you already heard me say. I forgot we were called 'Starcalled'. And yeah, we tend to stand out like a sore thumb. I mean, bit hard not too when ya look like a cosplayer sometimes." Rhela can't help but chuckle.

She rocks her head back and forth on the back of the bench, thinking. "And yeah... Makes sense that you wouldn't wanna go further than your comfort zone or anything. Oh, have you made any money performing? I saw you had a pouch and you sounded pretty good!"

 

[Chako]

Chako started blushing when Rhela laughed... C-come on, I was trying! Though Chako knew she failed really badly at that.

Then came the question, which Rhela stopped herself midway from asking, but Chako understood what Rhela meant... "No, I haven't. It's just common sense, apparently. Everyone knows it and they make sure to warn any and every newbie they come across that it happens. When basically everyone you met, including the people you became close friends with, try to warn you about something, then you just kinda have to believe it, yanno?" She could understand random people spouting conspiracy theories, but she knew Ruby wouldn't warn her about it if she didn't know it was true.

She giggled after Rhela followed her cue on the topic change though, "Forgot you're called Starcalled!? How do you even forget that!? A star appears in the sky when we first come to Arcia and basically everyone who lives here calls us that!" Granted, if one didn't talk too much to local residents, the term might not come up so much, but... Well, Chako just wasn't used to working with that mindset.

"It's not too hard to just pick up a dress from a local tailor though. Then you stop looking like an outsider." That's basically the first thing Chako used money for in Arcia... Money she borrowed from her best friend since she had none, but she just didn't want to stick with the starting clothes... At least the maid work let her pay this debt and the maid outfit debt away. She didn't want to keep on owning money to her friend if she could help it.

Though now that she thought about, Starcalled fashion was said to be weird specifically because they usually wore weird clothes on purpose, so telling Rhela that she could just get a simple dress from a tailor didn't matter much.

"Ah, I made a bit here and there. Not that much though.

"People living here do like my songs," something very easy to verify with her ears, "but it's not like they have much money to spend in the first place, so donating to a bard isn't exactly in the top of their priorities. Never mind the fact they already got used to my performances after a few days of it.

"So, my main customers are new Starcalled that just arrived at Honeyhome. They kill some monsters, get their first taste of money from a job well-done, have their achievement celebrated with a song, and then money flows my way... Which well, doesn't happen that often, but it does let me save up.

"... I should probably try playing in a bigger city, one filled with merchants, travelers and stuff... Somewhere like Dunnstads. I'll probably be able to get more money there, but... I just like it in here, yanno? Guess it's my comfort zone and all that." Chako smiled.

@Rhela Elahka

 

[Rhela Elahka]

"I mean-" Rhela looks down at the outfit she was wearing. Very tribal esque in it's design. "I kinda fit in with the felis in a way... At least some of them who live in the deeper woods." She smiles a bit as she tugged on her skirt a lil.

"And I'm very glad people enjoy your music here. It is rather nice to listen too. Perhaps one day when I'm better at this we can do a proper duet, yeah?" A lil smirk. "That might draw a bit more customers to you- ah right... yeah makes sense that people wouldn't want to donate if they know you and also don't got money to do so to begin with."

She looks around... "There is a rather big city to the west, but it's multiple days- if not months of travel to get there on foot. By cart it's a shorter distance. But aah... if you don't wanna leave your comfort zone, then maybe ya shouldn't yea?"

"But seeing other regions is really nice~"

@Chako

 

[Chako]

Chako giggled, "Yeah, you totally fit in with people living deep in the woods!" But the two of them were in the middle of a village!

"A duet? Yeah, I wouldn't mind it." Would mean less money for her, but hey, not like she made much money anyways, "... After you improve, sure." Chako tried her best to not have any venom in her voice in that line... It was just... How was she supposed to even say it!? It was so hard to be nice about it!

"I don't mind not getting many donations over here though." Chako looked up at the skies, "Like... Dunno, I just feel nice giving them something to listen to, I guess? There's just something special in hearing children call each other to come listen when I start playing." As opposed to calling each other to start making bets on her trip count of the day when she started dancing...

"The west? You mean in Astorea? I'm not very fond of the place... Guess I just don't like the concept of a Starcalled nation as a whole.

"I'm glad it exists as a safe space for any Magias though. Would be pretty bad if they had to stay in Falderen only." After Chako finished talking, she started wondering to herself if Rhela would know of the whole mess with Magia that made Falderen hate them.

... Well, someone must have told her by now. No need to tell her what she already knows. Chako decided.

@Rhela Elahka

 

[Rhela Elahka]

Rhela leans back before stretching and lurching forward. "Well, I'll be sure to practice out of your hearing range for a bit!" She seemed happy to announce this. Showing she did know her skill level wasn't great but also that she knew she had to learn. And... That she can take criticism on her playing. She rocks back and forth a bit before she looks to Chako. "I'm glad the children enjoy listening to you, Chako. Best for it in fact." She can't help but smile.

"And yeah, Astorea. It's not the best but... yeah, fair. And yeah, best for the Magia to still have a place to return too. Some place where they are accepted instead of scorned due to... whatever the fuck happened." She sighs. She doesn't know the full details, hasn't had time to ask about it with others. And she's not been TOO active in game aside from some leveling here or there while she travels around without anyone with her. Fricken lone wolf. She should see about making a group of her own at some point...

@Chako

 

[Chako]

Chako knew she was not having much tact when talking about music, but it still felt bad to hear Rhela say she'd practice outside of her hearing range... Chako didn't meant to be rude or anything.

She didn't know what to say about it though, so she said nothing and allowed the conversation to move past that.

"Yeah... It's nice to be able to do something that lets others smile." She commented.

"Wait, you don't like Astorea either?" Chako was a bit surprised, "I thought most Starcalled liked it and that I was the weird oddball exception... Like, it's the Starcalled Nation and all that, yanno?

"And uhn... As for what happened to the Magia... To be honest, I don't really get it either. It sounds crazy to me. Apparently there was a big bad Magia with brainwashing magic that affected other Magias, including Starcalled, and so they all went wild and caused a lot of destruction.

"But then uhn... For some reason the Starcalled didn't want to beat up the big bad and instead spared her? Then people got seriously angry at that decision... Which like, sure, I get it. But apparently the people here in Falderen also started hating on Magias and banned them, and I'm just like... Hold on, what's the connection? Why are you all hating on people who were afflicted by brainwashing magic?

"So yeah, it makes no sense to me, but that's how it is, apparently." Chako explained to the best of her understanding... It was still something that baffled her, worse still was having Bluebird say they should repent for the sins of other Starcalled and Alice saying she should be afraid of Magias like Alice... Those were some seriously odd situations.

... But well, guess she wouldn't remember the conversation in detail if it wasn't so weird, so perhaps it was not that bad.

"It's pretty scary stuff though, isn't it? Like... There being some brainwashing magic that can affect Starcalled being out there... I wonder how that even feels like.

"... Not that I wanna go through it or anything though! I just think it's really wild!" Chako quickly added.

@Rhela Elahka

 

[Rhela Elahka]

"..." A shiver runs down Rhela's back and tail. Well, that wasn't something she realistically wanted to learn the feeling of.

"People want to blame something. And if the main thing was Magia then they will blame Magia. It's likely that most people don't know the full story of what happened and that's the reason why people blame em." She's gentle as she explains it in a simple way.

"Sounds scary though. Definitely don't wanna be on the receiving end of any magick like that... I m-"

"... Oh right... I do like it. Just everywhere has it's flaws, hence why 'it's not the best'. Plus, I don't quite get along with people too well when it's in big groups, means I stutter and stumble over my words and end up with my tongue tied and I begin to panic and- yeah..." Rhela looks to @Chako with a half-hearted smile. Maybe she was saying too much all at once?

 

[Chako]

"Mmmm... I guess so? Not like I understand the full thing either, like... Why spare the big bad? That totally lost me." Chako nodded, "Not like I like the idea of people killing each other or anything though. Just dunno, I guess there is a point where you just can't save everyone?" Well, in anime you always try to save everyone no matter how doomed the situation is, but in Fellout you just kinda had to accept the losses caused by war and the like... Maybe the people in charge of the war effort were more into animes and less into western gaming? Chako was pretty calm as she thought all that... It was sorta weird, she figured she'd feel worse thinking about it, but it just kinda went through her head and left easily... Maybe it was easy because she wasn't there to see how scary it really was.

Then, a sudden wild topic change came, moving it back to what they were talking about before, guess Rhela doesn't want to dwell on this any further? Alright, then. "Oh, you feel uncomfortable in big groups?" Chako seemed surprised... Then she pondered for a bit... "Coming to think of it, I dunno if I was ever in a big group.

"Maybe during harp recitals? But it's not like I ever had to talk to the audience, so it didn't really feel like I was in the group, more like I was playing for them...

"And it's not like the waiting room in hospitals is much different, since we don't really talk to one another there... Mmmmmmm... I wonder what it's like to be in a big group... Feels weird to imagine. Like, you'd struggle to make proper conversation and stuff?" At this point she was just rambling, but... Hey, it was fine to ramble on every once in a while, wasn't it?

@Rhela Elahka

 

[Rhela Elahka]

"The real world doesn't allow you to save everyone from every problem. And I've learned that this place emulates the real world far too well... Even if they did save the enemy leader they still condemned the Magia in some way." Rhela looks around. "If Szofrit is still alive, then the threat of Magia being mind control will almost always exist."

Rhela put her elbows on her knees and rested her head on her hands as she looks around. "And yeah, I get kinda uncomfortable. And get spoken over a lot in bigger groups because I'm really polite about stuff. I wait my turn but people jump over me near constantly. It's a bit of a problem I have. A bit of a pushover when it comes to conversations in crowds. I'm really bad at conventions and whatnot, but I still go to them to try and sell what I can in regards to my books and whatnot." She chuckles.

"Doesn't help that I'm always stuttering over my words and get tongue tied when I say the wrong words and mess up. Kinda sounds like gibberish when it happens and I just end up looking angry at myself. Just imagine this small girl at a book stand or something saying 'goodbye' when someone walks up to her stand, then spouting some sort of gibberish and aaaaaaaagh! And looking angy." She tries to emulate the angry look she'd have when she makes the mistake.

@Chako

 

[Chako]

Chako was a bit surprised to hear the word Szofrit come out of Rhela's mouth... Chako had only knew about this one due to babysitting Emmie for a bit. For someone who hadn't heard much about all the mess with Magias, Rhela was well informed.

"Mmmmmmm... If people aren't really respecting you when you speak and are constantly cutting you, then those people aren't worth your time! You can make better friends than that!" Chako concluded.

"Conventions though? What are those?" Chako tried thinking about it... Something that you could sell books on, so... "Is it like... A book fair?"

Then, she started giggling when hearing Rhela's explanation of what it was like in her stand, "Well, if you always look angy" that sounded cute, "Then you're gonna attract people who like cute angy characters!"

Then, all of a sudden, a random thought came to Chako's mind, "By the way, have you ever met Trinity?"

@Rhela Elahka

 

[Rhela Elahka]

Rhela's ears flatten against her head as she was called cute. "I-... fair I guess. And a convention is like a book faire, yeah. Like... hmm... There are people selling books, art, shirts, random lil tiny statues and art pieces... You know...?"

She tried to keep the explanation short and sweet. But when the question about Trinity popped up... "No... But I have heard the name. Is she like the Game Master or something like that? I mean, that's what some people say." She thinks a moment. What an odd question to have pop up randomly for @Chako to ask. Her tail swayed gently.

"Why? Have you?" Well, she might as well turn the question on Chako, because it made sense to and she was curious now. What else does Chako know at this point anyway? The death game was real, and she was sticking around... So... Hmm... That meant Rhela had to stick around too now. If only to protect this lil bean of a cat girl from the world at large.

 

[Chako]

"Ooooh, random lil tiny statues!? That sounds adorable! Maybe I should ask mom to take me to one in one of these days!" Chako replied. She didn't exactly know what to expect of it though. Would people be selling mini-Davids? Or statues of liberty? Or maybe a tiny Buddha? It sounded like a nice souvenir to get, alright.

"Game Master? No... She called herself a mascot." Chako grumbled, "Yeah, I did meet her. Really annoying girl. Forced us into some strange simulated space to fight weird artificial monsters, and then to fight her in a trial of sorts.

"She used some really crazy magic. I felt like I was suffocating..." Chako shivered while remembering the memory, "And she did it with a big smile in her face, 'Favored players, you have to protect your supports, kay?' It was so frustrating! What were we even supposed to do when she just summoned a giant pyramid around me that started suffocating me!?

"And what was up with that whole 'players' talk!? Like, c'mon... Not only did she make me feel more pain than anything I went through in the hospital, but she also does it with a big smile on her face... And she can't even preserve my immersion while doing that!?

"Really hated meeting her..." Chako sighed, "I was just hoping you could have landed a good punch on her face if you had, since beating her up didn't seem to amount to anything last time."

@Rhela Elahka

 

[Rhela Elahka]

"... Sounds like a GM of some sort. One who has a liking towards certain players... And sorry to have your immersion ruined but I'd be more worried about almost dying- like... Holy shit- wait how old are you?" She had to ask now. Considering all the random stuff she's heard and the way this girl talks and and... yeah. There's just a lot here. Chako almost reminded her of a younger- more stable?- version of herself. Bit hard to tell. She's stable NOW obviously but back then she was not great.

"I'll be sure to punch her lights out if I ever see her." Rhela raises her arm up with a small flex. There's some definition there, but she's shorter than Chako, would Rhela really be that intimidating in a fight? "Especially for hurting you, she's got a nice big target painted on her back now." Sounds like someone doesn't like a GM abusing their abilities...

@Chako

 

[Chako]

"I don't think that's it... Though she also wasn't like a Lander or Starcalled either...

"She was like..." Chako pondered for a few seconds, "Those really old AIs from grandpa's time or something? Something like that. She felt absolutely weird and out of place.

"Ah, I don't think it was possible to die there in that simulated environment though. The feeling was horrible, but uhn... I'm pretty sure one of the people there with me at one point fell down and just kinda... Had his ghost floating over him for a bit until he was healed? It was very strange.

"But yeah! The feeling was way worse than the immersion breaking! It was just really annoying on top of everything else!" Chako explained.

"Ah, and I'm 14." She didn't feel like it was a good idea to share too much info over the internet, but her age should be fine, right? If someone started acting creepy, she could just report the person to some guards or something.

Besides, she didn't think Rhela would suddenly start acting creepy.

"And thanks! Though I hope you don't have to deal with her doing anything annoying to you!"

@Rhela Elahka

 

[Rhela Elahka]

Rhela stood up right quick upon hearing how old Chako was. "Fourteen?! And you're-" She settles down quickly with a deep breath... She speaks in a much more quieter and hushed tone. "You're playing a death game at 14 years of age? Seriously?! Wh... what if something bad happens to you? What if you die in here too many times? What if---... Gods..." Rhela stumbles back a bit and holds her head as though she was getting a headache as her mind raced with all the negative possibilities that could happen. Well, it's not like Rhela was any better. She was here too, playing a death game, because she was searching for someone. What could she be doing lecturing a fourteen year old? Not like she exactly lead by example or anything like that.

She sat down on the ground and just put her head in her hands. "..." That's it... She couldn't stop playing now. Not with someone this old playing. She had to keep this kid safe. Make sure they lead a good life. Made sure they were happy. It'd be terrible for a life like @Chako's to be cut short like this. Her tail twitched in agitation.

"... Hope nothing bad happens to me too. Don't want to disappoint my adoptive parents after making them so proud..."