18+ Private Dunnstads Seaside Stargazing

[Erick Stryker]

The sun began to set in the west around the time that the sea came into view. On their peripherals, Erick was dimly aware of a caravan bound for Stokbon, some several kilometers to the north. Perhaps the drivers had some amount of daylight left to bear them to the Capital unmolested, but then, perhaps not; if they continued to drive their horses at the leisurely pace they were, he doubted the thieves that lay in wait for darkness would continue to ignore them.

But that wasn't their problem, right now. Adventurers were hired as Caravan Guards for such things. Concerned citizens might surely leap to their rescue. For Erick and Ruby, this was a moment that belonged entirely to them. Nothing would spoil that. Several days before had ended with restless sleep after a phone call where he got to see her face for the first time. After that, they spent hours texting back and forth when she wasn't busy with work, until she asked him if he wanted to go on a date.

Of course she'd asked him.

Unlike typical Midwestern women, Yuhan was bold. She would make the first move and hell with waiting, especially since she knew that there was something. Jim in turned responded to that fire with no small amount of interest, so it wasn't even a question for him. Yes.

Yes, he wanted to spend a night under the stars with her, listening to the waves, talking about whatever came to mind. Maybe he'd even get a chance to know her better. Time would tell.

Yes, time.

"Looks like clear skies," he observed casually, dipping both hands in his pockets as they came to the crest of a hillside that took them higher until they were looking down at the sea. An inkwell of murky black, the Lament, with pastels of orange and yellow and purple with gray clouds hanging overhead. And looking to the east, the ever encroaching night sky. He could see the first stars blinking to life, and couldn't help but to smile. "Gonna be a pretty night," he added, turning to glance back at Ruby.

She was faster, but she kept pace with him effortlessly, with no intention of rushing anything.

He pulled a blanket from his inventory as they reached the top of the hill, where it dropped off and became a cliff. After a moment of preparation, he took a seat and hung his legs over the edge, then patted the spot next to him.

@Crimson Ruby

 

[Crimson Ruby]

Ruby's tails swayed at the sight, with every step making her excitement grow stronger. It was something mundane and fairly chill, stargazing that was usually relaxing, yet it brought her heart to a rapid beating. Perhaps some anxiety, or anticipation? Who knew? It wouldn't take long for Ruby to try and push those thoughts away, focusing on the situation rather than the overthinking. She was the one that asked him to come along, not him, if she showed all this sheepishness she would look ridiculous.

Trying to find comfort somewhere, her gaze shifted to the landscape, with a beauty that calmed her down... Just in time for her to be caught by Erick's words.

"Clear... And wonderful as well." She smiled, watching him pull a blanket for them to sit, on while Ruby unsheathed her sword, looking at its starry blade. "You want to watch it as well, don't you?" She muttered, tracing her finger on the blade fondly before gently laying it just behind where she would take a seat, following Erick's gesture and calmly taking a seat next to him.

"Maybe we will even see some starfalls from afar if new players come in." Her ears twitched.

@Erick Stryker

 

[Erick Stryker]

He watched her draw the blade and speak to it affectionately, curious. He didn't have a weapon in the same sense, something with spirits residing in it that he could commune with. Instead, his weapon was a spiritual focus that drew energy from Celestial bodies. They were different methods, perhaps, but they had a great deal in common when it came to aesthetic.

Maybe we will even see some starfalls from afar if new players come in.

"That would be kind of cool," he said, smiling at her, "though part of me hopes we don't, just because I would rather more people didn't find their way to this world." It was a challenge he hadn't meant to stumble on, with dangers he never intended to expose himself to. Now that he had, though, his conscience wouldn't have been clear if he didn't continue to face them so that other people could be safe.

Erick leaned back and rested his weight on both hands, tilting his head back to get a good look at the sky. The sun was slowly dipping behind the sea in the western sky, a perfect vantage to get a glimpse of Stokbon in the distance as ships ambled slowly into her harbor for the evening. At their current distance, only the largest ships were really visible, and there were only a few of them that hadn't already docked. He watched with mild interest because where he grew up, there weren't many large ships.

He couldn't recall any, really.

He watched Ruby out of the corner of his eye after taking a moment to relax. "So," he asked her. "How are you?"

@Crimson Ruby

 

[Crimson Ruby]

Ruby's ears twitched at the answer, and she nodded. "True. But I think that some people may find something they need in this game." She admitted, with her gaze locked on the horizon for that moment. "I wasn't fond to games, until I've played this one years ago." Ruby sighed, shrugging while admitting Terrasphere was the one that caught her attention and locked her.

She eventually averted her eyes from the horizons, listening to a question one would only do this far into the conversation if they had nothing else to talk about.

A quiet chuckle escaped her lips at the thought. "I am fine. Things have calmed down a lot." She said. "I still can't really forget what happened months ago, but I think I've lost my fear... I've even been venturing through Zalra sometimes, with a friend of mine." Ruby revealed.

"... And you? I hope you haven't been exploding yourself." She squinted.

@Erick Stryker

 

[Erick Stryker]

It was true, Erick had become wholly unused to casual conversation. In his youth, he was a butterfly socially, talking to everyone whether or not he knew them. Now, he spent most of his time doing quests to help others and exploring parts of the world where people were struggling to see what he could do to improve life just a little. He didn't spend much of his time offline, other than to have a meal or sleep, and when he did go out, it was very late at night and his interactions were short and not filled with much conversation.

Ruby was the one person he really felt much desire to talk to, and even that wasn't enough to make him remember what it was like to enjoy being social the way he once was. Still, she made easy conversation, as if she was up to the task of doing it for both of them. His depressive mind was thankful for the reprieve.

Things have calmed down a lot. I still can't really forget what happened months ago, but I think I've lost my fear...

He was relieved to hear that. Ruby had such a presence, and that fear had reduced her to someone with far less of the exuberance and warmth that was rightfully hers. To hear her say that she was actually adventuring, and even spending time with friends and actually doing things, that made him feel good.

I hope you haven't been exploding yourself.

He paused to consider her words. Suicide, probably, she meant. Intentional death, the way he had gone out against the DEAD.naught. But he wouldn't call that suicide, per se... more like heroic sacrifice, the way of a tragic figure from Greek mythology. Still, Ruby didn't quite see eye to eye with him on that. He wouldn't press the issue.

"I won't say I've been playing it safe," he answered honestly, "but I definitely haven't gone out of my way to die or anything like that. I like to help people, and you and I both know that has a tendency to get dangerous... but I haven't been fighting any haywire Magia in the process."

He tilted his head when she mentioned Zalra. The Explorers were supposed to be doing something up there around the holidays. "Are you going to be doing that thing with the League when they go north?" he asked. "I was considering it, since they said they're doing some humanitarian stuff, but I'm not so sure..."

@Crimson Ruby

 

[Crimson Ruby]

Ruby pondered at Erick's words, letting out a brief sigh and nodding. "Just by logging into this game, we are no longer playing safe." Ruby said, swaying her tail and turning to look at him. "It does have a tendency to get dangerous- And as much as I like this altruistic side of yours, it is good to make sure you are helping yourself." She said.

"... Magia is far from being the only danger of this place." It was a swarm that had permanently murdered those she cared for, after all.

At the mention of the humanitarian job the League would take part in, Ruby shook her head. "I don't plan to go to North. I have other things in mind..." She said, pondering about it, before blinking and looking at him.

"Why? You are planning to join them?" She asked, curious about it, especially considering it involved the League.

@Erick Stryker

 

[Erick Stryker]

"I'd been considering it," he said honestly, "since I haven't join any of the little book clubs in this world yet, and apparently you get more opportunities to do things if you're a part of one. But I'm not sure that exploring is necessarily my prerogative. I care way more about the "helping people" part than the "see new parts of the world" portion of the assignment."

The way she'd said that she had other things in mind, Erick had to wonder. It was her group, right? The Explorer's League? Didn't they clique together, or was there more to it than friend groups and who went with who to do what? He still didn't completely understand the premise behind any of it.

But if she wasn't going to be forthcoming about what else she planned to do, he wasn't going to pry. She was usually pretty open about things. If she didn't want to tell him, he had zero right to ask. Instead, he closed both eyes and let the sea breeze wash over him. It was a calm night, not balmy like Winter but cozy like Autumn. Perfect for shifting closer together with someone for comfortable warmth, minus the shivering.

"Something on your mind?" he asked instead.

@Crimson Ruby

 

[Crimson Ruby]

"Helping people is something you can do with any of the factions." Ruby said. "Each of them in their own way, be it directly or indirectly." She gave her opinion, swaying her tails and peering at Erick. "Unfolding the unknown before others, scouting and uncovering remote areas before anyone else, being the pioneer and risk your life so someone else's will be easier when they cross that place first... That saves as many lives, if not more, than rescuing someone from a direct danger, because it avoid the direct danger in first place." She explained, swinging her legs a couple times.

"... Just like at Red Fever." Her lips pursed in a bitter smile. "It is far from being as glorious as bridal carrying someone out of an exploding battlefield though." Ruby shrugged slightly, giving an example that ironically she has failed to achieve in the same event she had mentioned.

Her ears then twiched, peeking at Erick and humming. "There are other ways of doing humanitarian work, and I do plan to keep it a bit more mundane than the fancy flight travel they are going to do."

@Erick Stryker

 

[Erick Stryker]

"Well, not every job gets to be fireworks and champagne levels of exciting and enjoyable," he mused, smiling at the way she had depicted it, as though humanitarian work was tantamount to fairytale heroism. "I knew some people who volunteered at a Soup Kitchen during the holidays, like on the weekend or for a few hours on Thanksgiving or Christmas," he said. "A few hours sacrificed that you could be at home with family, eating and drinking and having fun gives people who don't get that luxury because they don't have homes, or can't afford to do things that we take for granted a chance to experience something that brings joy to their heart."

He glanced fondly down at the swell, dark waves crashing against rock. He'd heard that New England beaches were rocky rather than covered with sand, but then, he hadn't really seen a real "beach" outside of Terrasphere. The Plains were vast and went on forever, and if you went far enough west, you might see the Badlands, or the Black Hills. As for water, the river was about as good as it got, and it stank so he only rarely went there.

"People get fulfillment out of things you don't ever think," he smiled softly. "Like just spending time somewhere, or with someone." His own reality had a very poignant lack of someones. Ruby had come to be an exception, even if she was a slightly rare exception. He enjoyed not being alone with his thoughts.

He glanced at her without turning his head from the waves.

"What do you mean by 'mundane?" he asked.

@Crimson Ruby

 

[Crimson Ruby]

"Sure doesn't... And to me, honestly, it is better to have something less flashy sometimes... Being part of music... And even opera that does have theatre involved, gets you a bit tired of... Having eyes on you." Ruby admitted, facing forward and pondering for a moment. "And I'm saying that knowing that my area is niche, so it could be even worse, if it was actually popular."

Her gaze then shifted to Erick when he mentioned volunteers, listening to the kind act attentively and smiling briefly at it.

"Making a family's Thanksgiving or Christmas like that... It must be amazing." Ruby muttered. "We didn't have these in my hometown... But families to gather in the Moon Festival or in the Lunar New Year. I'm not sure if there was volunteering happening, but I was too young to think about it, so..." She shrugged.

Her ears twitched when listening regarding the sense of fulfillment some would have over somewhere, or someone...

"You are right." She muttered, glancing at Erick, and breathing a giggle before scooting closer and laying her head on his shoulder.

"By mundane, I just mean not as fantastical and magical."

@Erick Stryker

 

[Erick Stryker]

"You don't like eyes on you?" he asked, surprised. "Oh no, I'm sorry, I've been mesmerized looking at you so many times that I never considered that you might not."

He smirked to let her know that he understood what she meant, and that he was joking.

We didn't have these in my hometown... But families to gather in the Moon Festival or in the Lunar New Year.

Much the same as she said, these things were among many Erick had never heard. The Lunar New Year sounded like some mishmash of the Harvest Festival from back home and the traditional New Year's celebration, but he let her continue without asking any questions.

When she laid her head on his shoulder, everything felt worth it. For the feeling of someone touching him, showing interest, being close, he was glad for everything that had happened until now. He put an arm around her instinctively, pulling her as close as he could as he closed his eyes and rested his head against hers.

By mundane, I just mean not as fantastical and magical.

"Not gonna tell me, huh?" he asked with a chuckle. "Ah well. Keep your secrets, I guess," he shrugged.

@Crimson Ruby

 

[Crimson Ruby]

Ruby's cheeks turned slightly rosy at the cheesy words, swaying her tails before whipping Erick's back with them as a retaliation, then wrapping them around his waist, just like he wrapped her in his arm.

"It isn't a secret." Ruby said, looking at Erick. "I just plan to go around, help to decorate towns. The most less mundane thing I'd do is if someone wants to cook a terror bird or something for Wintersday, then I think I will have to swing a blade around." She shrugged with her 'free' shoulder.

Her ears then twitched, and she closed her eyes as well, only bothering to keep her senses at the warmth of their contact and the sounds of Erick's voice.

"I don't think you will be busy all Wintersday tossing gifts at people though, will you?" She asked as she wondered, wanting to know what would be his plans for it.

@Erick Stryker

 

[Erick Stryker]

"Oh, that's pretty cool of you," he said, having expected something much less down to earth for some reason. Between the two of them, though, it seemed like Erick was far more prone the greater call of adventure. "I dunno why, I thought you'd go on some kind of journey of your own, maybe fight some Christmas Boar or something, I dunno," he said, letting his imagination run away with him for a moment.

"I definitely don't think mundane is a bad thing, though."

When Ruby asked him if he would be gone all of Wintersday, he tilted his head. "To be honest, I don't know the whole plan," he reached up and scratched his head thoughtfully. "Its a long journey there, but we can fast travel back and forth once we've been there, right? Maybe I'll be able to get back in time to do some celebrating?"

He didn't want to give a definitive answer when he didn't have one.

@Crimson Ruby

 

[Crimson Ruby]

Ruby chuckled, shaking her head negatively. "Fighting a Christmas Boar? Your Imagination is really flourishing, Erick." She said, peeking at his face for a moment before closing her eyes and continuing to lean on him.

"Not that it would be a bad idea, I certainly wouldn't mind the fun of going for an adventure, I just thought it would be a good change of pace to just relax." Ruby explained, caressing the tip of her tails on his lap, raising an eyebrow. "Fast travel?" She wondered. "... Shouldn't you keep this time travelling for actual important things?" Ruby asked, reminding herself of how much troublesome it was, according to Erick himself.

Granted, going back in time for some celebration was a probably bit less complex.

"Anyway..." She continued. "What I actually want to know is that if you want to do anything for Wintersday... Together?" Ruby asked.

"Boar hunting included, if that's what you want."

@Erick Stryker

 

[Erick Stryker]

He stared into the vast abyss that now stretched out above them and listened to her quietly. She was right though... he'd always had an active imagination. That was what made him interested in voice acting. He wanted to lend his voice to the characters in stories he couldn't be in himself.

Shouldn't you keep this time travelling for actual important things?

If it was time or space magic, he wouldn't even consider it. Erick could only imagine the toll that using such a method would exact, especially with repeat performances.

"Yeah, you're right," he nodded.

Anyway... What I actually want to know is that if you want to do anything for Wintersday... together?

"Yeah, that would be awesome!" he said.

"But, uh... not boar hunting, no."

@Crimson Ruby

 

[Crimson Ruby]

Ruby laughed quietly, shaking her head at the rejection at boar hunting. "Good, in this case, what many other things we could do?" She asked, leaning her head away from his shoulder, so she could turn and face him with curious eyes, wondering what he could have in mind to spend their time together.

Wintersday clearly being Christmas gave them a handful of options that could be equivalent in Terrapshere, but they had access to magic and tools that they would never dream of having in the real world.

"We can go from the typical, traditional things... Or we can try to get creative on what sort of things we could do..." Ruby rubbed her chin, brushing her tail on Erick while they swayed at the pace of her thoughts.

"... From something adventurous, to something relaxing... Really, the options are kind of unlimited." She shrugged, already working on process of elimination in her mind, already trying to disconsider things that would require conflicts.

@Erick Stryker

 

[Erick Stryker]

"Doesn't feel like we do enough relaxing, does it?" he asked, folding both arms behind his head. Maybe life had always felt that way, he thought. They had something to do every day, and on the days they didn't, they were planning for the next time that they did. The real world was so busy with expectation and disappointment that the idea of quests that they could slow down for only gave them anxiety about not doing enough.

And then when they had time to relax, they felt guilty about relaxing.

"I'm always down for an adventure," he said. If they accomplished something, they could say it was time well spent. Or... didn't spending time getting to know another person qualify as time well spent? His mother used to say that friends and loved ones were always a good use of time. Had that stopped being true when everyone turned their backs on him? He looked sidelong at Ruby and managed to smile.

Erick wasn't like Jimmy. Erick refused to give up on people, even if they gave up on him. He wanted a reason to be alive.

He wanted something worth living for in a world that felt like it was constantly taking reasons away.

But this wasn't that world. This was Terrasphere. Erick wasn't Jimmy.

Erick didn't know what dangers were waiting for them, not so far in the future. He didn't know, and for the moment, he chose not to care. He was uniquely positioned in such a way that he could respond when that time came. He didn't have to plan ahead for disaster.

He was tired of always fearing disaster.

"...why don't we spend some time helping out, making sure everyone has a happy Wintersday? Like you were planning to do anyway, but this way, we can do it together. It'll be a lot less stressful than fighting or going all over hell and back looking for trouble."

@Crimson Ruby

 

[Crimson Ruby]

"It never does." Ruby sighed with a slight shrug. Not when the amount of work they had to do seemed to overwhelm any attempt of relaxing. It was almost like an addiction, where you would have withdrawals for not being able to work or do something that is an obligation... Perhaps even a feeling of dependence on having something to do. Not because you have to work, but because you must do something.

Those thoughts and words, however, never escaped Ruby's lips. She wanted to spend that small, relaxing moment with Erick, until he pointed out an adventure, making her ears twitch. "You really can't get adventures out of your mind, can you?" She asked, swaying her tail to ticklishly brush it on Erick's neck before hopping onto her feet.

"I kinda knew you were going to say that." Ruby said, looking at the man with a soft sigh.

"Such a goody two-shoes." She teased a bit, but her smile and the primal aura she emanated showed that she appreciated that side of him, even if it was the source of so much headache she had to deal with.

@Erick Stryker

 

[Erick Stryker]

"Guilty as charged," he grinned as she mentioned that he couldn't keep adventuring off his mind. The best thing about this world was that it was a return to the fantasy genre, to a time and place where people could make a living off of journeying across the world and slaying beasts, playing hero. "I feel like that's a commonality among a lot of people, though."

Truth be told, he'd expected a lot more people to be obsessed with adventure. There were more down to earth folks than he gave credit for. Roleplayers weren’t as prominent as he'd assumed.

When she tickled his neck, Erick chuckled a bit and bit his lip.

She was such a tease.

I kinda knew you were going to say that.

"Heh."

Such a goody two-shoes.

"Am not," he said, smirking. "I'm just a nice guy."

He stretched out his arms, then wrapped one around her shoulders again. "You say that like you'd rather do something else?" he asked, giving her the chance to make a different suggestion.

@Crimson Ruby

 

[Crimson Ruby]

"Perhaps it is. I'm a bit adventurous myself. It is part of the requirement for being an explorer." She said, admitting the obvious before smirking back at Erick's retort, soon being entangled by his arm, making her ponder for a moment then peering closely to his eyes.

"We can do something else after we are done playing hero." Ruby said, with one of her tails shifting to wrap around the grip of her sword, unsheathing it and smoothly resting it on her hand, with her smirk fading briefly to plant a soft and quick kiss on his lips, swift to capture the sensation of his touch while giving a bit of her own, while also not leaving much room for a follow up.

"And then... We can play something else, if you want to." She said with a mischievous tone, locking her eyes on Erick's before turning to look at the caravan that was so far by now, almost gone from their sights, but certainly not gone from the sight of whatever ill-intentioned eyes were hiding in the darkness of the night forest.

@Erick Stryker