Level 9
I joined on January 1970, I am a proud and I've made 406 posts
#Survive
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Post by Ketha'al on Nov 10, 2017 23:04:06 GMT -5
A presence? Something moving in the field nearby? Other players? Enemies? His mind rattles through the immediate options.
"I hope you're talking about the subtle movement of a Zeitgeist or immediate enemies lurking around us, because otherwise I think I might be concerned."
He absently pats his hands around himself. Unarmed. Figures. He wasn't even aware of how to equip himself anymore. Clearly, he needed some practice, to watch a tutorial or something. How cringeworthy. A wave of intense embarrassment flushed his face.
"To be honest, I basically have no idea what I'm doing as far as playing this game goes."
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Level 20
I joined on January 1970, I am a proud and I've made 1,482 posts
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Post by ♛ L0PP3R ♛ on Nov 11, 2017 5:15:50 GMT -5
Lopper slows her feet down to a halt, exhaling deeply as she turns to face Ketha'al in the darkness. A weak hand moves forward, placing itself upon his chest as her eyes pierce through the dark to look upon the man who stands before her. There is a serious look on her countenance leaving no room for question that the words that soon follow to be nothing but honest. "I am not sure if there is any easy way to say this and, if it was not for the danger I am afraid those closest to me may be in, I would not say anything about the matter at all." There is a silence that falls upon her then, eyes shifting into the darkness once more in search of what lurks within it.
"Evil use to have a face in [The World] but now it hides itself in a shroud of ambiguity." There is a pause between her words, unsure of how to proceed from there. "They are hunting me," she blurts out suddenly as if she did not wish to speak words that make it anymore real than it already is for her. "They are hunting me and they have not ceased - and I am afraid that they are going to come after anyone whom I care for." Lopper exhales loudly, her head hanging low in defeat. It is clear to Ketha'al at that point that Lopper, once free of care or concern, is anything but.
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Level 9
I joined on January 1970, I am a proud and I've made 406 posts
#Survive
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Post by Ketha'al on Nov 11, 2017 5:43:01 GMT -5
Keth sobers instantly at her words, his blood turning to cold shards in his veins. That was an escalation he didn't see coming. His mind paced through old enemies uncontrollably, searching for the one that fit. He looked away as she met his eyes with that uncomfortable expression; he couldn't handle it at all.
"People? Or something... Else?"
There was enough of that kind of weird happenstance in this place. Of that, he was well aware. He looked back, a deep hurt and concern in his eyes. He'd only just gotten to see her again. It wasn't fair. Spikes of unreasonable emotion wracked him, making composure next to impossible.
"I'll do whatever I can. I don't want you to go away again."
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Level 20
I joined on January 1970, I am a proud and I've made 1,482 posts
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Post by ♛ L0PP3R ♛ on Nov 11, 2017 6:30:58 GMT -5
"The former," she speaks with regret in her voice. It is almost as if anything else would rather be better than the thought of humans being the ones controlling the ends to whatever it is that is going on now. "This is not about me," Lopper speaks suddenly as an index finger protrudes from a fist against his chest overlapping where his heart would be. "They will go after you, Ketha'al." A pause, as if being able to distinguish between the two Ketha'al's that there are nearly bringing her to her knees in an existential crisis. "The real you, Ketha'al."
A shuddering breath escapes her person as the umbrella wavers in and out of existence, Lopper's concentration faltering and finding itself unable to keep the umbrella conjured. With the umbrella glitching out of existence, Lopper turns her back to Ketha'al with fists forming at her sides. "You have to get away from me," she whispers, "before they realize that you and I are..."
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Level 9
I joined on January 1970, I am a proud and I've made 406 posts
#Survive
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Post by Ketha'al on Nov 11, 2017 22:12:22 GMT -5
Keth looked at her, trying to decipher the depth of truth she was dropping on him.
"Other people? You've been out making friends? I thought there was nobody left here, so why would...?"
He trailed off as it set in. Real people, not players. It had been five years, plenty enough time for Lopper to have gotten in over her head, in some situation. He shook his head, irritation being the expression that ended up coming out, the depth of true worry being sealed on a deeper level for now. And to think, he was worried about mobs just a moment ago. This was far more inconvenient.
"I need details, Lop. Why me? Because I'm connected to you? What the hell is this about?"
His tone became more brusque as he spoke, his fear and confusion translating into poorly-suppressed anger. He did not step away, though, nor did he turn from her. A threat... Now that was something he did know how to get real about.
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Level 20
I joined on January 1970, I am a proud and I've made 1,482 posts
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Post by ♛ L0PP3R ♛ on Nov 12, 2017 4:10:08 GMT -5
Lopper brings her hands together in front of her, pushing her index fingers together rapidly in a nervous way. "You know those type of situations where someone says, the less you know the better? And you think to yourself that such a thing is not possible because, you know, situational awareness is everything! But this is the exception to that rule, and you have to know that you are in real danger, and every moment that you are here with me is a moment longer they can dial your position." Lopper spouts out in a hastened way, stumbling through all of her words in the messy position she finds herself to be in.
Inhaling deeply, Lopper finds the strength to turn around and face Ketha'al with a seriousness upon her face that one rarely would ever find on a character like Lopper. "You have to leave," Lopper commands with a serious unwavering voice, "you have to just trust me on this one. Okay?" A pause. "Please, Ketha'al... I do not want anything ill to become of you..."
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Level 9
I joined on January 1970, I am a proud and I've made 406 posts
#Survive
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Post by Ketha'al on Nov 12, 2017 20:43:56 GMT -5
Keth scoffed. This was actually more typical of Lopper than he had expected. Still, it had been a long time. He couldn't really hold the extra moment to catch up against her. He'd probably have done the same thing anyway, even knowing the circumstances. He reached out, touched her shoulder, and with a completely serious look, said:
"You really might want to consider leading with that sort of information next time, Lop. But I hear you-- I'll watch my back, okay? Send me details when you have them, or whatever."
Then he smiled, far too easygoing for anyone's taste, the type of smile you'd buy for 4 bucks and get out of a blister pack. He didn't want her to worry about it too much, his lie so blatant as to stick out like a yellow flag... Still, he didn't give her overmuch time to process it: He gave her shoulder a reassuring pat, and then turned away, starting to walk casually. His hand lifted and signed a blind farewell as he went, waving a fingergun up over his head.
At a range of about four paces, a private message arrived in Lopper's inbox, the familiar chime grabbing for her attention. At that moment, Keth turned suddenly, dropping into a bent stance and mimed shooting a shot at her with a childish grin, even as the golden rings hurriedly descended and split him into light and data and whisked him away.
The message said only this: "See you space cowboy."
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Level 20
I joined on January 1970, I am a proud and I've made 1,482 posts
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Post by ♛ L0PP3R ♛ on Nov 13, 2017 3:28:45 GMT -5
Lopper drops her gaze to the floor, a skewed smile passing onto her lips at the message and Ketha'al's too polite departure. She knew that he is upset and she could not blame him for being so. It is not as if she ever meant to bring trouble to him or to anyone who wished to enjoy [The World]. If it is a selfish conquest for Lopper, had it always been that way from the start? It has been so long at this point that Lopper cannot remember her own feelings of the matter, even when her life changed forever.
Now is not the time for tears, she thinks to herself, now is the time to get my hands on that little brat. Lifting her head up suddenly, tears swelling in her eyes, she scoffs at herself and the situation as a whole. Bringing a defiant hand up to wipe at her eyes, she turns on her heels and walks into the darkness which she disappears into.
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