Complete ✪ Stokbon This isn't how you stay a shut in?!

[Lucy]

The Holy Capital. Stokbon truly was the perfect place for new players, and thus Lucy found herself in the city once more. Her first login still fresh in her mind as she roamed the streets. Her eyes flickering from place to place. There was still so much to see despite her having felt like she had explored the entire city prior to this outing. Each new thing that she saw made her eyes widen further and further. The light seemed to catch in her eyes and make them shine, bringing out the many different hues. People were chatting and trading goods, laughing and just overall having a good time. The atmosphere was so very different from Lucy's real life, something that would still continue to take her by surprise. Lucy eventually stopped dead in her tracks as a wafting smell of food came lunging towards her nostrils. Her head whipped around trying to locate the source. She eventually gave up looking and decided to follow her nose. Her body being "gravitated" towards the location, until she stood right outside of a very delectable building. Her mouth gaping open and closed as she realized just how hungry she was. Her stomach making the classic the churning and gurgling noises as she stepped closer, her fingers reaching for the door of the Hand & Flower.

As soon as Lucy entered she began to visibly drool as she saw the food that graced some of the tables. Her eyes briefly crossed over the people that remained in the tavern, not really making much note of it. The only fact that somewhat caught her attention was that quite a few adventurers were gathered around a board of sorts. However, Lucy dismissed it rather quickly when she found herself at the front, ready to order her food. She very quickly spent her money and walked away from the counter with a leg of some beast the size of her face. The only thing visible around the humongous fleshy meat was her long and very curly bright red locks.

The bright sun felt warm to Lucy's pale skin as she stepped out of the tavern. Still nomming away on her delightful treat she walked down the street, people moving out her way so they wouldn't crash into each other. Lucy had no environmental awareness as she continued to walk, her attention was solely focused on her beast leg trying to hurrying finish it so she could explore more of the town.

@Mio Ban

 

[Mio Ban]

For Mio, logging into the game came with a pair of responsibilities each time she did. Every time she must make money and gold somehow, and she must take her time to paint with all her heart. Today she was trying to at least get a nice drawing in. Posting herself up against a wall outside of a tavern she used black inks to color a wall thinking she was discreet enough to avoid any kind of repercussion. Her artistic skills were quite refined and well done, even with just a single color black to work with she had shading and depth to her work. Unfortunately, as a college student, her bad sense of humor provoked her to draw a Flower growing out of a crusty turd that her brush skills unfortunately refined to a level of realism that might be unpleasant.

Despite that however, Mio believed herself to be a visionary, others might not understand or get her works, but one day they would, some day she would be in textbooks as an artists the likes of which could compete with any big name-- Or so she assured herself and continued practicing. One day one of her terrible pieces she makes today might be worth billions as one of her early works before she was recognized like other famous artists out there.

This was the delusion she sold herself constantly as she worked. Her small improvised scaffolding kept out of the way so it wouldn't interfere with pedestrians or seem off for the public. Instead, it was for that exact reason that Lucy was able to come close enough to it to make her stumble. Though losing her balance, her tail did a good job catching herself and redistributing weight. The ink that stained the tip turning it into a large elaborate calligraphy brush however ended up painting her scaffolding as well.

"Hey you stupid--" The moment she recognized the reason for her sudden loss of balance, obscenities poured from her mouth, each more colorful and inappropriate then the last. Though never crossing a line into things that shouldn't be said, that didn't stop them from being visceral and harsh.

If insults didn't seem to be making a dent or causing enough damage though, she'd naturally slide down her little hastily built stand using tail and curled foot to land beside the curly haired girl in frustration. Small even compared to Lucy, Mio flared up instantly trying to shove the girl resorting to violence the moment she was within reach to do so. "Hey! What're you thinking?" She'd continue to protest and repeat, even giving another shove if she could.

@Lucy

 

[Lucy]

Lucy felt her world flip upside down as she felt a sort of resistance as she attempted to take another step forward. The reason behind her stomach turning and the look of horror that temporarily flashed across her face was in fact her leg of meat. She had yet to finish it, yet there it was smack dab in the middle of the floor. She was oblivious to the fact that it had first landed on the work of art that Mio had been creating, leaving an indent of the roasted outer skin all across the painting. Luckily, her food had no sauce, so it was merely just specks of spice and skin. Lucy very quickly snapped back to reality, the look of horror instead being replaced by an apologetic smile as Mio began to call her names and release a list of vulgarity.

Her smile didn't falter as Mio slid down where she had been perched to stand face to face with Lucy. The first shove, being followed by a question asking Lucy what she had been thinking. It continued on for a quite a bit as another shove was thrown in Lucy's direction. Lucy simply let it happen without a single feeling of hostility until she found a chance to speak, "I'm sorry miss, I was just trying to eat my meat. I didn't realize i'd run into anyone, this is entirely my fault." Instead of all of the insults being thrown at her, and despite the shoves that had caused Lucy to stumble she seemed unaffected. "I'm Lucy! You're also rather pretty, what's your name?" Lucy held out her hand to shake Mio's. Whether or not Mio accepted it, slapped it away or did nothing had no affect on Lucy.

After a few moments, Lucy moved slightly out of Mio's way so she could peer at the painting that Mio had been working on. Her apologetic smile being replaced by a full on optimistic and excited grind, Lucy glanced at Mio. "You're pretty talented! Sorry for messing it all up, my bad.. Haha I really oughta watch where I walk, especially if i'm eating..." Lucy thoughtfully reached forward and began to pluck the pieces of skin that her food had left behind. Plopping each one in her mouth she closed her eyes in bliss, Lucy loved the food here. The taste was just pure bliss as Lucy attempted to remove the evidence that her drumstick had ever smacked against the work of art.

 

[Mio Ban]

Mio had been in the middle of continuing her ruthless tirade, prepared to unload every cruel kind of word she could think of until she noticed her painting had been caught by a food product. One could almost audibly hear glass shatter as her eye twitched at the sight. For a moment lifting the painting up to her face almost uncomfortably close as if to diagnose it, as if it couldn't possibly be what she thought it was. However, when it became impossible to deny reality any longer in the end, her fists clenched first, taring portions of the fabric as she shook.

"Thi-- Yo-- My--... Guh--"

She couldn't find the words before roughly taring the frame and the fabric together with a rage filled roar of denial. Spending time just taring to shreds what would have otherwise been a slightly flawed piece. When she ran out of breath, she would pause only long enough to suck in air before continuing to rip and tare. "Gi-Give it back to me... Give me my time back... You monster... You demon... You-- You-- I'LL KILL YOU!" She roared in her anger and anguish turning towards Lucy grabbing her by her collar and shoulder to shake her violently.

"Die you monster-- You heathen-- You hater--"

She kept shouting unreasonable titles in between threats of 'I'll kill you' or 'Die' while being shaken. If even then Lucy didn't resist, or didn't fight back, Mio's rage would merely peak again with a twitching eye. Her tail would bristle immediately from her fury and her ears would stand up to make her seem taller as she began pulling and taring at Lucy's clothes. A cape, a cowl, shoes, socks, anything she could grab hold of she began taking, wallet, money, items, it didn't matter to Mio as she tried to extract what she could from this girl who, in her own eyes, robbed her of a painting that would have one day been worth billions of dollars when she was famous.

By the time she simmered down, having stolen what she could until the poor girl in front of her was destitute and perhaps a little roughed up depending on how much she fought back or resisted, Mio was breathing heavily. Still insulting, with every breath she exhaled some kind of obscenity or cursed remark would bounce off of Lucy while Mio gripped the woman's possessions as if they were her own. "My time... My famous painting.... Kuu-- You owe me, you monster, you better work for the rest of your days to pay me back."

 

[Lucy]

Lucy's lower jaw dropped to the floor as she witnessed the scene unfold in front of her, the girl had snatched her painting and proceeded to rip it to shreds. Lucy wasn't sure why, because to her there was nothing that couldn't be fixed. As the girl's cold gaze turned back to Lucy, she apologetically bowed her head. Her vermillion curly locks falling in front of her face, she returned back to her normal position and used her hands to push the strands of hair out of her face and behind her back. Despite the fact that the girl was shorter than Lucy, she still managed to snatch Lucy up practically lifting her off the ground to shake her in pure rage. Lucy didn't know what to do other than profusely apologize for her mistake.

Careful not to shout over her companion, Lucy continued to audibly apologize, "I'm so sorry, it's all my fault." When Mio was finally done shaking her, Lucy was then ripped of all of her belongings, leaving her down to just her tunic. Due to having let it all happen she had managed to escape with just a few scrapes and a few bruises. The purple dark color contrasting against her pale skin. Thin lines of blood dotting her body here and there where she had an unfortunate run in with Mio's nails. Despite all of this, Lucy could only let out a soft and optimistic smile. Nothing would ruin her mood, especially not her screwing up as much as she had. Mistakes are bound to happen in life, as long as she admits to them and grows from it, anything is possible.

Being called a monster was very similar to the insults that had been thrown to her by her parents in the real world, though it had next to no affect on Lucy, "You can call me whatever you want to call me but, is there a name I can refer to you as?" Lucy inquired again about the girl's name. Her prior question had most likely been drowned out by all of the insults that Mio had been throwing in her direction, though Lucy had no issues repeating herself. She only wanted to respect her new friend, "How can I repay you and fix what I messed up? I truly don't want to cause harm to a friend of mine." Lucy still kept up with her soft smile. "I will work hard, and I won't give up till you feel satisfied. I truly made a terrible mistake and I intend to fix it." She bowed her head again, before looking Mio straight in the eyes. Her own eyes twinkling without a single sign of defeat, fear or gloom.

 

[Mio Ban]

It was only when Mio was completely out of breath and unable to keep shaking so violently that she finally heaved and allowed Lucy to talk, albeit somewhat unwillingly. Had she the power there's no doubt she might've ended up shaking her until sunset. Still she held onto Lucy's things possessively having stolen them with hard work in her own mind. Still catching her breath to the point of heaving when finally asked for her name, she almost hissed and growled, lacking the energy to scream more curse words. In the end she huffed and turned away in protest. "Mph.... Mio. Mio Ban." She would say trying to keep her back to Lucy. If the girl tried to move around her to meet her eyes, she'd go out of her way to keep trying to turn away even to the point of turning her neck until it hurt to forcefully not look at Lucy as a form of resistance.

"R-Repay me? My future billions of dollars? You-- You think you can just give me billions of dollars like it's nothing huh? Huh?!? You liar... You monster... You-- You butt head..." She started insulting again, but still not having caught her breath her insults weren't quite as well thought out as she continued until she was heaving again. The more Lucy tried to look in her eyes, the more fiercely she tried to swing her head in an effort to forcefully ignore the girl until she could do so no longer. In the end claiming the woman's things she asserted with a huff of disapproval. "Fine... Fine! FINE Jeez..." She complained almost scowling trying not to work herself up to the point of bending over again.

By the time she finally caught her breath, she stood up at her full height, still smol but trying to seem intimidating. "Then-- Then from now on you're my possession. If you think it'll be easy to pay me back you're wrong. You're gonna have to work hard your whole life." She insisted already huffing and turning her head pretending to be disgusted anticipating some kind of protest or disapproval, no one would be silly or dumb enough to surrender their future over a painting right?

@Lucy

 

[Lucy]

Lucy smiled, "You don't have to turn away from me, yknow~" She then kept trying to move her body so that she could make eye contact with her friend, "You have a beautiful name!" She nodded her head, though Mio would not have seen as she refused to even look in the direction of Lucy, "I will repay you. Whatever it takes. It was entirely my fault, again i'm so sorry." Lucy reached her hand out and tenderly set it on the shoulder of her friend.

Lucy still refused to give up despite Mio refusing to look at her. Finally after what felt like ages, Mio had turned back towards Lucy. Giving her a moment to catch her breath, Lucy waited patiently and when Mio finally spoke again, Lucy's eyes lit up even brighter. "For a friend, I would do anything. Thank you for accepting me despite the fact that I ruined something so very important to you. Something you were working hard on." Lucy clasped her hands together and closed her eyes happily. After a second, which also felt like forever, Lucy reopened her eyes, "So what can I do for you first?" Lucy wanted to help Mio as soon as possible.

"I've never had many friends before, i'm so happy that i've already made so many good ones here!" Lucy held her hand up to the sky, as if taking the clouds and sun into her own possession. Though after a few seconds, Lucy seemed to finally notice all of the dried up blood and dark spots that seemed to cover her arms. "Oh, before we do anything, I ought to be in top shape." Lucy stuck her tongue out at her own little comment before closing her eyes in concentration. She began to use her magic that she had only recently figured out how to use. A nearby flower being more than enough, Lucy seemed to invite the natural magic of the flower towards her. Glowing speckles of pollen being drawn towards her until it began to encompass her natural aura to cause a light green and yellow glow to encompass her entire body, very thinly as she focused on mending her blemished body.

Even if Mio had tried to interrupt her, Lucy would have stayed concentrated, for as soon as she started to use her magic of nature she lost touch with reality. Her mind being filled by the wishes and hopes of the plant life around her, drowning out anything and everything that might be happening. The soft glow began to disappear, as if it was being absorbed by her body. As it was fading, all of the bruises and wounds that she had gotten from Mio would disappear, her body appearing as though nothing had happened. The only remnants being the fact that Mio was holding all of her belongings and Lucy was in just her tunic.

Lucy reopened her eyes, a wide grin on her face, "Now that that's taken care of, let's get started!" Lucy was more enthusiastic than ever to help her friend.

 

[Mio Ban]

"Eh Beautiful? Eh?! Me?" She asked, cheeks flushing slightly in thought. Being called beautiful was nice, it almost made her through her chest out with grandiose and almost narcissistic laughter. Before she lost herself in how great she was though she paused and instead went back on guard. "-- It's a trap! Kuu... Trying to trick me." She spoke with a scowl. She liked being praised obviously, but this was the girl who ruined her painting after all.

While debating and pouting, Mio considered gains and losses. In the end she exhale heavily and decided she'd give it a try. "F-Fine. Then bow down to this great me. From now on you will be stooge #1 and work for this Mio forever." She insisted. No one would go that far right? But if Lucy did Mio could only hesitate. Fingers rubbing her own chin and cheeks trying to figure out what she should do first.

While Lucy was distracted with magic, Mio was almost pacing back and forth considering how best to use her new lacky. She needed more supplies, with canvas ruined and ink needed she would have to find more. While Lucy was working, she continued pacing circling the girl like a shark while she came up with schemes and plans. In the end, right as Lucy opened her eyes, Mio would bring a hand to her palm and shout. "I got it! This is what we'll do~" She grinned, a sinister grin for the small fox girl. Her ink covered tail sashaying behind her in her excitement as she pointed down the road. "We steal!... Or... Or Forge in the wild!" She shouted while posing.

While saying so, she glanced to Lucy and leaned closer until her chin was resting on the girl's shoulder, her brows knit into a tight pout. "Psst... Stooge #1, are you better at stealing or looking for ingredients in the wild?" She asked, as if pausing her heroic announcement to find out how best to use her new tool.

 

[Lucy]

"Oh not at all! I just speak what's on my mind and in my heart. It's the best way to go about life." Lucy gave Mio Ban a curtsey rather than a bow, though it wasn't an act of defiance. Lucy just was in tune with her girlhood, and preferred the feminine approach.

Once Lucy came to, Mio Ban was quite close to her as she shouted out her plans. Lucy liked the enthusiasm the the girl had to offer as she produced two quite so opposite plans. "I can't say i'm very good at stealing things. I think i'd stand out..." Lucy motioned to her hair, it really did stand out with the bright color and length. "Though I am definitely not opposed to foraging. I can't fight very well, but i'm very attuned to nature, thanks to a marvelous teacher." Lucy replayed the events with Haru in the forest in her head over and over again relishing in the beautiful memory.

Enough of the past! This is the present, and what better way to make more memories than doing something memorable with a new friend, right? Lucy smiled again, something she just kept doing. There was nothing wrong, at least in her eyes with the way that Mio was treating her. The delusional Lucy, thinking a slave pact was the same as a friendship. "Let's head out right now then!" Lucy couldn't wait to start a new adventure with her friend.

The more memories that Lucy made in this world, the more likely she was to want to stay in it, permanently. Lucy gave a huge stretch, her hair swishing as she moved before she took a step forward and began to head to the exit of this great city. Lucy would keep moving, one step behind Mio Ban as she didn't want to take the lead of their expedition.

"I know this might be a bit too much to ask, but could I have my pants back? I don't want to accidentally flash you at some point... Unless that's something you want, then it's fine."

 

[Mio Ban]

"Eh?" Mio couldn't help asking in confusion. Not really sure what she should be asking. This girl was weird, for a moment it made her hesitate on what to do or say in response. Glancing about for some kind of conclusion to draw, Mio's name was cute she thought, but to call it beautiful, she wasn't sure.

Though hearing her think about her marvelous teacher, and the talk about foraging, for a moment Mio visibly cringed, yes, this stooge of her's was going to be difficult, but one was better then none while she was still getting used to the game! "Okay, then foraging... We'll need wood for charcoal, and flower pedals for pigments for color." She murmured her little shopping list. Mio actually didn't use color often, evidenced by her black and white turd with flower painting from before, color was when something needed to sell, it needed to pop and be fabulous, but black was for practice, it was simple and easy and quick and she could do it with her own power instead of resources.

With a bright smile though she happily threw her fist in the air when their destination was settled. "Let's go!" She called out with Lucy though the moment she was asked for her pants back, Mio would begin trying to further stuff everything into her inventory without hesitation. "N-No, it's mine now, you promised." She protested with a huff and puffed cheeks as if trying to accuse Lucy of going back on her word, accusation clearly on her face as she protested the return of pants. All the while walked out of the city with Lucy onto their first adventure.