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Post by therunawaygirl on Aug 23, 2020 2:30:50 GMT -5
Verun blinked a few times after hearing Henoke’s simple comment, chuckling afterwards. Yet that alone wouldn’t be enough to make him a proper weapon, given how vague the description was. Tori couldn’t help but agree with him silently, knowing just how tough it could be.
“Y’know, I need a bit more info to know what you want” Verun mentioned with unease, “You say you want somethin’ ‘awesome’, but what’s awesome for me might be lame for ya. Y’chatch my drift?”
While he focused on sorting the materials out, waiting for Henoke to make up his mind, Tori turned towards the teen as he asked why they needed weapons. Yuto chimed in at the perfect moment, making explanations a bit easier.
Although they could cut it out with the whispers.
“You two don’t need to keep your voice down” she mentioned, amused, “People are aware of the Heartless —they know what they are, even. They’re rare nowadays, though…” Tori smirked, “Because I closed this world’s Keyhole long ago.”
Finishing rather quickly, Verun returned back to the trio, both hands on his hips as he waited for some answers or directions. Tori turned back towards him, calmly, causing him to look with scrutiny.
“What do ya want now…?” he asked, suspicious. “Nothing related to smithing, that’s for sure” she replied with a chuckle, “Rather… Help me out to explain these two what this world’s about.” “Oh, so they’re from outside?” Verun asked casually, “Well, that explains a few things, don’t it?” “…” with a smile, Tori turned towards Henoke and Yuto, “What Neku told you is correct, Yuto —this world has its own threats, those being monsters. Some are tame, while others vicious. So, in order to survive, people take them out, before they take us out.” “Those who people want taken down are referred to as ‘Marks’” Verun explained with a smirk, “Strong monsters that pose an immediate thread to people living in town. After all, not everyone can fight and fend them off. You need to wield a weapon —obviously— and also have experience fighting.” “We’re taught early how to fight” Tori continued, “How to wield weapons, and how one hunts down their Mark. In my case, I’m learning how to be a proper Hunter —a person who takes down Marks in exchange for rewards, such as gil or items. Neku, on the other hand, wants to be a Mercenary —a fighter who helps people in exchange for money or info, and that includes helping people outside this world.” “That’s all nice and good, but I still need to tackle a custom weapon, right?” Verun said, his tone now a bit exasperated, catching Tori off-guard. He looked at Henoke, “So? What’ll it be? I already got a few measures just by lookin’ at’cha with that axe from earlier, but I still don’t know what sort of weapon ya want. There’s plenty of stuff I can do, but I ain’t gonna waste time doin’ something ya might not like.” “…Would it help if he showed you what he’s used to fight with?” Tori suggested, calmly. “Hell yeah it— Wait, he’s already got a weapon?” “One we can’t use here, though.” “…Oooh! I get’cha!” Verun nodded after his initial shock, to then look at Henoke with a grin, “Mind showin’ me? Don’t worry —I don’t mind it one bit. Heck, I know Tori’s got one, too!”
Verun smiled reassuringly, just in case Henoke grew even more suspicious or uneasy. Yet having Tori explain a bit, plus his usual demeanor, would most likely leave those suspicions behind, given the fact that Verun was already aware of the Keyblade the girl wielded to begin with.
What was another one?
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 23, 2020 11:56:07 GMT -5
”From what Neku told me this place is crawling with monsters.” Yuto’s answer brought a twinkle in Henoke’s eyes as a look of wonder came over his face. ”Woah, f’real?!” It seemed he was excited to see what kind of beasts lurked on this world. ”You two don’t need to keep your voice down.” Tori’s amused look made Henoke confused for a moment, thinking about the ‘World Order’ and other things Chirithy and his master had nagged him about. ”People are aware of the Heartless—they know what they are, even.” Henoke was visibly surprised, taking a step back as he blinked wide, hearing how Tori had already closed this worlds keyhole long ago. ”Seriously?!” Then why did they hate Keyblades so much?
As Verun came back over, Henoke was bout to give him more instructions before hearing Tori ask for a more in-depth explanation. Knowing it’d be wise to at least have a grasp on where he was, the teen quieted for a moment. ”Oh, so they’re from outside?” Henoke nodded, grinning a little sheepishly—being so used to avoiding discussions like this. ”What Neku told you is correct, Yuto—this world has its own threats, those being monsters.” It was weird, hearing how something other than Heartless were threatening a world. Hearing about the ‘Marks’, dangerous monsters that posed a direct threat, Henoke perked up, a fiery and eager look in his face. ”We’re taught early how to fight, how to wield weapons and how one hunts down their Mark.” It all sounded like something out of a fairytale, to him, compared to his own home world.
Then again, wasn’t his life more like one as well, these days? Hearing Tori share her own goals, as well as Neku’s, Henoke smiled a bit, resting his hands behind his head. So…she’s got plans, huh? What was he going to do? His only goal was revenge for now. He didn’t think much past that. Shaking the darker thoughts off, Verun’s sudden question about his weapon brought him back to the shop. ”Would it help if he showed you what he’s used to fighting with?” Tori’s question was a saving grace, as Henoke found himself indecisive about specifics. There were too many cool weapons in this shop, he wanted all of them. ”Mind showin’ me? Don’t worry—I don’t mind it one bit. Heck, I know Tori’s got one, too!” The smith’s smile quelled any doubts Henoke had as he nodded and raised a hand in front of him.
Summoning his Keyblade in a ray of light, the teen held up the large steel-grey weapon wrapped in bandages. Grimacing a bit, the teen seemed to stare at the Keyblade reproachfully. ”I dig it’s size and weight…but honestly it’s pretty borin’ lookin’, huh?” A devious and impish look came back to his face—showcasing his own immaturity as he chuckled a bit. ”It'd be nice to have somethin' cooler, or flashier! Somethin' that makes people go 'woooow' when you draw it, y'know?!” It seemed Henoke was really thinking more about visuals than any sort of practicality. At the end of the day, he typically just sliced and bashed at whatever obstacles were in his way—he didn’t care much about the finesse of it all.
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Aug 23, 2020 20:23:40 GMT -5
Yuto was a bit taken aback by Tori's explanation of the world's knowledge. He let out an impressed whistle, sealing a world's heart wasn't an easy thing especially on your own. ”What Neku told you is correct, Yuto..." The man nodded. It didn't seem like Neku had a reason to lie, they had only just met. Yuto listened as the girl continued her explanation, with some information added in by the blacksmith.
The idea of being a mercenary, helping people no matter the world, sat well with Yuto. It seemed like a fun idea to bounce from world to world, helping whoever he could. 'Got the world-hopping part down anyway.'
Verun's request to see Henoke's Keyblade brought Yuto back to reality. People frowned on people having them, but the smith seemed eager to see it. ”I dig it’s size and weight…It'd be nice to have somethin' cooler, or flashier! Somethin' that makes people go 'woooow' when you draw it, y'know?!” The man stifled a laugh at Henoke's comment. "Considering I've seen you split that thing in half, I'd say its pretty cool."
Yuto placed a hand on his bat. He liked the simple things, there was a uniqueness to them. Things that were plain could be just about anything you wanted. 'This thing has saved me more times than I care to admit.'
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Post by therunawaygirl on Aug 24, 2020 3:46:33 GMT -5
Verun brought one of his hands to his chin, while the other rested on his hip, as he looked attentive at Henoke’s Keyblade. He had to admit, it could have been a bit flashier, but the weapon served its purpose. He noted the break in between the blade, but kept his question as he heard Yuto chime in.
"Considering I've seen you split that thing in half, I'd say it’s pretty cool." “Well, that’s neat!” Verun agreed, nodding along, “A blade than can be wielded single or become 2 at the same time… Now that’s somethin’ I’d like to do! …But I doubt that I can do it practical, without any experience before…” he admitted later, sheepish. “So… That’s how you feel about your weapon, huh?” Tori teased Henoke, a smirk rising on her lips, “You’d rather have something flashy?”
Chuckling a bit after, Tori backed off, while Verun examined the blade in detail. What would be a good option for Henoke, now that he knew what his weapon was like? Having already established his liking towards heavier weapons (not to mention weapons his actual size), a few ideas came to mind, but neither really suited him perfectly.
If it was going to be a custom, then it had to be a perfect fit. “Having trouble deciding, Verun?” Tori asked, catching him amidst thought. “Well, a few ideas are crossin’ right now, but none really… Fit” Verun admitted, “Not gonna lie —having barely any preferences other than it needing to be ‘flashy’ ain’t much, but I’ll give it a shot.” “As usual, you don’t give up immediately…” “I’ll see what I’ve got in stock and see what inspires me. But I definitely have something I wanna try later, though!” “That being… A double-purpose blade?” “Hell yeah!” Verun’s eyes shone with excitement, “Wouldn’t that be nice to wield!” “Well, whichever the case… You already got the request, right? Then that means we’re done here.” “Yep —I’ll let one of ya know when it’s done. As promised, I’ll make it a priority!” “Thanks again!”
Tori waved at Verun before leaving the shop, not before pulling her hood up, as usual, and waited for Henoke and Yuto outside the shop. Much to her surprise, Neku was waiting for them outside, leaning on the wall right besides the door. He pulled himself back up, a grin on his face, as he turned to face the trio.
“Y’all done, then?” “Yep” Tori nodded, “Now, we wait for it to be finished, and we can start hunting together!” “Well, you were gonna make him pay for it, right?” “Yeah, but not immediately. I’m kinda hoping Ashe can agree and add them as honorary for the time being.” “Huh… You came with a plan ‘n’ everythin’, then” Neku teased, before relaxing a bit, “So? Now what? I'm done on my end, so I got some time to spare.” “I was going to take them to the Shacks, but…” Tori turned towards Henoke and Yuto, “If you want to check around town first, then let me know! We could probably go take a bite while we’re at it.”
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 24, 2020 14:52:04 GMT -5
”Considering I’ve seen you split that thing in half, I’d say it’s pretty cool.” Henoke simply shrugged at Yuto’s response, seemingly unconvinced about his weapon being ‘cool’. Verun’s excitement over his Keyblade’s ‘dual wielding’ capabilities, the teen seemed to smirk confidently as he puffed up his chest a bit. It seemed even though he had badmouthed his weapon, he appreciated a Smith finding it interesting. ”So…that’s how you feel about your weapon, huh?” Tori’s smirk brought an indignant look to the teen’s face as his face grew slightly red—waving off her tease with a hand. ”Tch—whatever. Heroes’re supposed to have special lookin’ weapons, right?” Crossing his arms a bit, the teen seemed somewhat sheepish—almost as if he were embarrassed about voicing these thoughts aloud for the first time.
Hearing how Verun wanted to try his own hand at a weapon like Henoke’s Keyblade, the teen chuckled and watched the Smith’s enthusiasm in good humor. He really loves what he does, huh? It was a pleasant sight to see—a master of a craft who had a passion for it. ”I’ll let one of ya know when it’s done. As promised, I’ll make it a priority!” Henoke nodded and thanked the smith with Tori, grateful for his help. Following Tori out of the shop with Yuto, the teen was surprised to see her friend, Neku, already waiting for them. ”Y’all done, then?” It seemed the young mercenary had finished his own job as well. As Tori mentioned someone named ‘Ashe’ and ‘Honorary Members’, a confused look came over his face as he tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. Members? Of what?
”I was gonna take them to the Shacks, but…” Hearing Tori mention grabbing food and exploring the town, Henoke couldn’t help but feel excited. ”Ohhhh yeah! Let’s do that first!” With a wide grin and a spark in his eye, he glanced between Yuto and Neku. ”How ‘bout it? Y’all down to explore the town first?” Truthfully, Henoke only really wanted to because he never got to just roam around towns without having to deal with Heartless. The teen couldn’t even remember the last time he was in a town with actual people in it. The whole situation was getting him beyond excited.
Fired up and ready, the teen waited to hear how everyone else felt, his enthusiasm radiant.
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Aug 24, 2020 16:59:55 GMT -5
Yuto smiled at Henoke's conversation with the smith. 'Seems like Henoke would be his favorite kind of customer.' He watched as the three talked shop, taking care to not interrupt.
”I’ll let one of ya know when it’s done. As promised, I’ll make it a priority!” It sounded like they had a deal made, Yuto just shrugged and went with it. It was the easiest option after all. He followed Tori and Henoke out of the shop, only to see Nuke waiting for them. ”Y’all done, then?” The man listened as Neku and Tori talked about what to do next. Things about being named honorary members and such. 'That reminds me, I should see how Wantz and the guys are next time I'm in town.'
The mention of food caught Yuto's attention almost immediately. He hadn't had anything to eat since he got here. "Food and exploration, definitely" While seeing the weapon shop was nice Yuto was curious what the rest of the town, and the world, had to offer.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Aug 24, 2020 17:16:06 GMT -5
Hearing Henoke’s eagerness, while noticing his expression altogether, made Neku snicker. Tori, on the other hand, was beaming, an earnest smile in her lips as she held her hands behind her back. It seemed like everyone was on the same page, as Yuto commented his preference. They were already by the Plaza, so starting there would be easy.
“Alright, then!” Neku smirked, placing both hands on his hips, “Then let’s get a proper lunch, and then head out!” “Didn’t you already eat?” Tori asked, tilting her head with amusement. “…No?” “Haa… Weren’t you the one complaining to be hungry?”
Neku smiled sheepishly, while Tori lead the way. It was still the middle of the day, the town buzzing with activity at all times. While the Plaza wasn’t exactly full, and people could move around without bumping into each other, the movement was clear. Tori and Neku led the two to the nearby tavern, now emptier as people began to leave to resume their duties. Right in front of it was the Chocobo stables, the birds flapping their wings and kweh-ing around happily.
“Let’s grab lunch, first” Tori mentioned, “Being honest, I’m quite hungry myself.” “Heh… Knew it’d be a good idea” Neku folded his hands behind his head, “A’ight, Imma grab us a table.” “Sure.”
Neku went in first, rushing to make sure they got a nice spot —preferably outside, where they could see the activity happening around them, being mostly a better spectacle than cupped inside. A few people were still there, some drunk and wobbly, but still awake enough to make way to the others.
It seemed like some were too keen on enjoying themselves.
“Ah —there we are…”
Tori took a seat after seeing Neku waving at them, her hood still intact. A waiter arrived not long after, offering them the menu and glasses of water to start off. Neku refused the menu, apparently having an idea on what he wanted, which caused Tori to chuckle.
“Didn’t know you were a regular…” she teased. “More than I’d like to admit —this place’s good for a quick bite” Neku replied. He glanced over at the stables, a calmer expression written on his face, “Y’know? It’s been a bit since I’ve gone with Hawk for a ride… Wanna race later?” “Maybe after we settle things?” Tori sighed, shaking her head, “And I honestly doubt it, in the near future.” “Aww… Bummer…”
While they chatted about, the water returned ready to receive the order. Tori and Neku both ordered ramen, Neku adding to his own meal a glass of juice.
A simple enough thing to do, really, to start off with.
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 24, 2020 21:01:04 GMT -5
With a wide grin Henoke nodded as everyone else seemed to agree to exploring the town. He followed along with his hands behind his head as his eyes wandered over the busy town around him. As they neared the tavern, Henoke’s eyes widened as they once more found the Chocobos. ”Man…those’re so cool…” Walking next to Yuto, the teen nudged his friend and pointed out the giant birds. ”We gotta ride ‘em!” A fiery look in his eyes, Henoke was imagining running through the busy town on the Chocobo’s back, leaping over people and bounding through the sky. ”Let’s grab lunch, first.” Tori’s comment brought his gaze away from the birds, his face falling slightly as he was reminded of their actual reason for coming here. ”Tch—fine...” With a somewhat deflated and sullen look, the teen followed Tori and Yuto to the table Neku snagged for them.
As they took a seat, Henoke found himself blinking in mild confusion as the waiter arrived, handing out menus and water. It was then that it dawned on him he had never been to a restaurant, at least, not to his fractured recollection. ”…” Glancing down at the menu, the teen tilted his head a bit as he read a few of the options. So…I just pick anything? Easy enough. ”Y’know? It’s been a bit since I’ve got with Hawk for a ride…wanna race later?” Neku’s comment immediately made Henoke jerk to attention—straightening in his chair as he leaned forward and put the menu down haphazardly. ”Woah—you have one of those!” He had seen the mercenary gesture at the massive birds in the stalls—the very ones he was so desperate to ride.
”We gotta race!” Refusing to submit to Tori’s brushing off the matter, Henoke gave Neku an eager and determined look. ”No way am I not gonna race!” He had wound up out of his chair and on his feet, a fist raised as he gazed eagerly at the chocobos. As the waiter returned, Henoke scratched at the back of his head sheepishly as he took his seat again with a nervous chuckle. While the others ordered, he scrambled with the menu. They have it!! Somehow even more energetic than before, Henoke ordered a spicy butadon, his mouth already nearly drooling at the thought of finally being able to eat pork. ”Make sure to make it extra spicy!”
He reached after the departing waiter as they shouted out—his hope resting on them as his eyes glittered.
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Aug 24, 2020 21:20:23 GMT -5
Yuto followed the group, trying to look into the taverns as they passed. 'I wonder if I could get a drink. Technically I'm more than old enough.' Henoke's burst of excitement caught his attention as they passed the Chocobos. ”We gotta ride ‘em!” Yuto tried to hide an impish grin as they kept walking. Knowing his past escapades growing up, there was an opportunity here he couldn't pass up.
They sat at the table as the waiter showed up. After a couple "Thank yous" for the water and menu, the man began to look through, seeing what sounded good.
”Y’know? It’s been a bit since I’ve got with Hawk for a ride…wanna race later?” The thought was an interesting one. Henkoe's excitement over it was so much that Yuto snickered when his friend realized he was out of his chair. 'That would be a perfect opportunity. Maybe I could even get Henoke on board.'
Tori's mention of business in the near future brought a sense of reality back to the conversation. "What things?" As much as the man liked going in blind, if this was something important, he'd like to know.
"Oh, um, some sweet curry please. With meat and rice." Having just noticed that he was the only one who hadn't ordered.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Aug 25, 2020 4:09:02 GMT -5
”We gotta race!” Neku was caught off-guard by Henoke’s eagerness, only to follow with an uneasy smile. He wanted to race him? Without even having ridden a Chocobo before? The thought was amusing, but not exactly in the right way.
It would be an empty win, in Neku’s eyes.
Once everyone had ordered, the waiter bowed and left, a pleasant and professional smile on their face as they did so. Tori rested her head on one hand, looking at the conversation happening right in front of her eyes. Having caught Henoke’s order, she muffled a laugh, recalling just how much of a fan he was of pork.
No wonder his mother berated him for it!
“Now I see what she meant by that…” she mentioned aloud, glancing over at Henoke, “Do you eat anything but pork?” “Hmm?” Neku tilted his head, curious, “Hold on —what’cha talkin’ about?” “Nothing that you should worry about” Tori replied, pushing him away a bit, causing him to chuckle, “In any case, Henoke… You don’t even know who to ride a Chocobo, do you? And yet you wanna race Neku like that?” she shook her head, “Reckless as always…” “Like you’re one to talk!” Neku said, his arms crossed as he smirked. “Likewise”
Waiting for things to calm down, Tori then turned towards Yuto, as she heard him ask what it was, that she had to settle. She smiled calmly, already wanting to move the conversation to how the world worked, and what they could do while they were there. As she was about to ask, the waiter returned, carrying a tray with the items each member had asked for.
“So… Two bowls of ramen…” they set them to Tori and Neku, “A glass of pineapple juice… Then, a bowl of extra spicy butadon… Ah, careful —it’s hot” they warned as they placed the dish to Henoke, “And finally, sweet curry with meat and rice” they placed the dish to Yuto. Stepping back, they bowed, “Anything else?” “I think we’re good —thanks” Tori said, calmly. “Alright!” Neku pumped his fists faintly, eager, “Thanks for the meal!”
Neku immediately began to dig in, not with too much rush, but definitely enjoying it. Tori took it calmer, more willing to talk rather than eat, even though the smell and look were all too calling. Holding the sticks in her hand, she waved them at Yuto, finally able to answer his questions.
“Well… I had this sorta thought out ever since we arrived, although I wasn't considering 2 people at first...” she began, “On what things to do and such. I mean, there is a reason why I told Henoke to get a new weapon, and not just because of how people look at that here —it’s a much more interesting reason” Tori giggled, “Of course, introducing you guys to the Guild’s also on the list.” “Oh, so that’s why…” Neku stopped eating a bit, glancing over at Tori while he leaned back, “That’s why you mentioned Ashe…” “Yep —I want them to know each other. I think it’ll be fun, hunting with the rest of the Guild as opposed to just hunting together. Heck, maybe Luneth can hook us up into a fun one!” “Wouldn’t it be too easy, if you’re goin’ along?” Neku teased, causing Tori to push him a bit more fiercely, “Okay, okay —Imma knock it off.” “…” Tori smirked, a bit annoyed, before turning towards Henoke and Yuto, “Those were my plans. Of course, I wanna show you the Shacks, first, since it’s best if you stay the night there. But that’s after we finish checking town a bit!”
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 25, 2020 12:53:09 GMT -5
Tori’s comment about pork brought a grin to his face as he scratched a cheek. ”In any case, Henoke…you don’t even know how to ride a Chocobo, do you?” Hardly daunted by his own lack of skill in riding, the teen puffed up his chest with a confident smirk. ”Heh—who knows, maybe I’ll be a natural!” It seemed he was as carefree and cocky as ever with trying new things. As the waiter returned, the teen straightened in his chair with an eager look as his eyes locked on to his dish. ”Ah, careful—it’s hot.” The warning only caused him to lean in as it was placed before them, the rising steam lifting smells that made his mouth water. ”Thanks!” Without any hesitation, he shoved a mouthful of pork and rice into his mouth as his soul went to ease.
”Mmmmm!! Sho goo’!” Piling more into his mouth, it seemed Henoke’s brain had short-circuited, forgetting about everything other than the food in front of him. Hearing Tori, he tried to pull his head out from his bowl. ”Of course, introducing you guys to the Guild’s also on the list.” He wanted to ask a question, but his mouth was too full to even try and talk. A guild…? He wasn’t really sure what that was. ”That’s why you mentioned Ashe…” Neku’s comment rang a bell to Henoke, who remembered hearing that name before. ”I think it’ll be fun, hunting with the rest of the Guild as opposed to just hunting together.” Ah, so a 'Guild' was a group? Finally managing to finish the obscene amount of food he had stuffed into his face, Henoke leaned forward, his eyes widening a bit with interest at the sound of a ‘hunt’.
”That’s right! The monsters!” He had been so into the idea of riding Chocobo’s he had nearly forgotten his excitement of wanting to see what kind of ‘monsters’ lurked in this world. ”Wouldn’t it be too easy, if you’re goin’ along?” Henoke barked out a laugh in between bites as Neku teased Tori, only causing him to laugh more after she shoved him in his seat. Hearing the rest of Tori’s plans, Henoke grinned and nodded, finally taking a break from his bowl. ”You really got it all planned out~” He smirked, secretly grateful for her outline. If he had been left to his own devices, Henoke was sure to get distracted and lose focus over every new thing he ran across here. It was all too lively and interesting for him not to get a little carried away in the moment. "Tch—I better eat fast to fit in time for a race!" Regaining his pace, the teen hunched over his bowl and began piling food into his mouth, taking quick moments to tend to his water in between bites.
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Aug 25, 2020 13:35:59 GMT -5
Yuto smiled at the conversation. It was nice to see friends just paling around with each other. ”Mmmmm!! Sho goo’!” The man laughed as his friend shoved food in his face. "Don't forget to breath, man." He took a bite of curry as he spoke. Before he knew it, he was following Henoke's example.
”Of course, introducing you guys to the Guild’s also on the list. I think it’ll be fun, hunting with the rest of the Guild as opposed to just hunting together.” The thought of fighting monsters w/ a large group of people sounded like a lot of fun. It had been a while since he did anything like that. A long while. He shook the thought from his head and decided to enjoy the company.
"So, any idea on what we would be hunting? I mean, the bigger the monster, the larger the group right?" He'd be lying if he said he wasn't excited at the prospect of fighting something big. 'If we get done quick enough, we can still race too.' There were so many things he wanted to do and experience, it was hard to pick a place to start.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Aug 25, 2020 14:41:32 GMT -5
Their reaction was priceless. Neku couldn’t hold it inside, and barked out in laughter, although with the already loud ambiance surrounding them, it didn’t really stick out, muzzling instead with the urban noises of the tavern. Tori followed along, although much quieter than the teen besides her.
“Sheesh, one look and I would’ve thought you two were starving!” Neku teased, still laughing aloud. “Being honest, I have to wonder just how long it was since you last ate…” Tori added with unease, the thought much more settled in her head than anything. She herself was enjoying the meal, although her excitement was much more subtle than the other three. How long had it been, really, since she had a good enough meal? She couldn’t really recall, but it all felt nostalgic, in a good way.
Sure enough, it was nice to be home.
"So, any idea on what we would be hunting?” Tori perked up, noticing how little she had been able to explain about the process. Finishing the noodles she’d brought to her mouth, Tori sat straight, looking between Henoke and Yuto as she, once again, began to explain.
“All things considered, I haven’t been able to check the Board” Tori said with a faint pout, “So I wouldn’t know just what is available to hunt. Not only that, but there’s also 2 other details we’re missing —1 being Henoke’s weapon. If we’re caught while Henoke’s using his Keyblade” she added with a quieter tone, “Then we’ll be in big trouble. Trust me —I’d know.” “The other detail… You were gonna mention Luneth, right?” Neku asked, receiving a nod from Tori. He then looked at the other two, “Luneth’s out Guild’s Stalker —the one in charge of getting us info regarding the Marks. Without the proper info, you’re practically asking to be monster feed.” “So, as we are now, hunting would be somewhat difficult” Tori finished, “Hence why I suggested checking around town, showing you two around and also making sure you have a place to stay. Since I know where you can stay already, I kinda just wanna show you around, first.”
Neku nodded along, finishing his own plate rather calmly despite the initial hunger. His glass already half-way through, he decided to take it easy, letting the food rest a bit. Tori still had her own dish to finish, taking it more slowly than the rest, but much enjoying the taste.
“Oh, right” Neku said, snapping his fingers as if he recalled something, “Yuto, you asked about how hunting works, didn’t you? Or… Partially.” “Ah…” Tori glanced towards Neku, “Huh —nice catch.” “Lemme explain —you’ve got a dish to finish” Neku teased, receiving a push as reply, before Tori resumed her meal. Neku, on the other hand, looked at the other two, “Okay, so… Not necessarily” he replied, “Just because a monster’s huge don’t mean it’s tough. There’s big creatures, but not all of ‘em are in the same tier. I’d argue that there’s teeny tiny monsters that are far more annoyin’ to deal with.”
“Marks are categorized in numbers, from 1 to 7 —that translates to ‘Rank’” Neku proceeded, “Of course, the higher the Rank, the tougher it is to beat it. Likewise, Hunters and the like are measured in the same Rank system —so, if there’s a Hunter that’s Rank 6, they’re most likely capable of taking down Marks that are up to Rank 6 on their own, without anyone else’s help. Obviously, though, one-man armies aren’t recommended, because, while you might be able to beat it with brute strength, you wound up pretty beat up, without being able to recover properly with magic. And that’s where Guilds come into play” he finished with a smirk. “Guilds are groups of people that work together” Tori continued, having already finished her meal, “They’re not necessarily the same class or Rank, but it makes it far easier to form a party to hunt down Marks. It also gives a few other benefits, but I doubt you two wanna hear all about it” she waved her hand nonchalantly, “By introducing you guys to our Guild and making you ‘honorary members’, it’ll be much easier for you to hunt down Marks without Neku or me, since you can just pair up with the other Guild’s members.”
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 25, 2020 15:13:19 GMT -5
”Being honest, I have to wonder just how long it was since you last ate…” Tori and Neku’s reaction had brought Henoke to a pause, his mouth still full as he scratched at the back of his head sheepishly. He couldn’t really remember, either. ”So, any idea on what we would be hunting?” Yuto seemed to be on point—curious about the ‘hunt’ more than anything by the looks of it. His own wondering brought him away from his bowl as he listened to Tori and Neku’s explanation. There was some stuff he didn’t really get—but it seemed that they wouldn’t really know what they were hunting until they made it to the previously mentioned ‘Guild’. ”Yuto, you asked about how hunting works, didn’t you?” Neku seemed to be willing to break it down more for them, though Henoke couldn’t help but worry it’d mostly go over his head.
Listening to Neku describe the ‘tiers’ of monsters, Henoke continued to shovel food into his mouth while imagining what some of the beasts looked like. ”Guilds are groups of people that work together. They’re not necessarily the same class or Rank, but it makes it far easier to form a party to hunt down Marks.” Gulping down his mouthful, Henoke nodded, finding it easy enough to follow along with that part. So…it’s a group that helps each other out with fighting monsters. It honestly sounded fun—wondering what kind of warriors and fighters he could meet on this world. ”By introducing you guys to our Guild and making you ‘honorary members’, it’ll be much easier for you to hunt down Marks without Neku or me,”
Hearing how him and Yuto could pair up with other Guild members and learn more about different methods of fighting, Henoke couldn’t help but stay hyped. Finishing the remainder of what was left in his bowl and gulping down the rest of his water, the teen had a fiery look in his eyes. ”Oh man! This’ll be awesome—“ Turning towards Yuto, a devious look came across Henoke’s face as he smirked. ”Wanna bet on who can take down the toughest monster?!” As confident and cocky as ever, Henoke’s smirk widened as he thought of imaginary warriors of unparalleled strength. ”I’ll team up with the biggest, toughest badass in that Guild! We’ll bring back the head of the scariest monster any o' you've ever seen!”
It seemed much like with the topic of racing, Henoke hardly felt daunted by his lack of experience.
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Aug 25, 2020 16:10:07 GMT -5
"...I have to wonder just how long it was since you last ate…” The comment stopped Yuto mid-bite. He put his spoon down and thought for a moment. 'Not since before I went there' He hadn't had any food, let alone an actual meal, in almost 2000 years. He couldn't think about that though, he had more pressing matters. Neku and Tori had started explaining how hunting works.
"Seems simple enough." The man shrugged. He was currently debating on taking the rest of his food home. It'd be easy, but he has no way to keep it.
'Honarary members, huh?' The thought was nice, and being able to team up with anyone was convenient. ”Wanna bet on who can take down the toughest monster?! I’ll team up with the biggest, toughest badass in that Guild! We’ll bring back the head of the scariest monster any o' you've ever seen!” Yuto couldn't help but laugh at his friends gusto. "I think you're forgetting something Mr. Badass." Yuto unhooked his bat from its holster and held it up. "Like that custom weapon? It won't be ready till tomorrow, right Tori?" The man could part with his weapon for a bit due to his magic and skills. He knew how Henoke was though, the teen would probably punch everything in his sight if he wanted too. "Let's get the boring stuff outta the way first, yeah?"
"Oh, and as far as finding a place for me to stay, Tori, I'll be fine. Promise." He had planned on sleeping back home and taking a Corridor back for whatever he was gonna do the next day. He smiled to try and waive any concerns her or Neku would have.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Aug 25, 2020 16:30:57 GMT -5
Tori giggled a bit, enjoying the dynamic all too much. Neku simply smirked, his arms crossed as he spectated the debate, amused by it in a way he couldn’t really described. All in all, they seemed to be enjoying things, Henoke in particular. There was the world’s uniqueness to thank for that, but so far, only mundane, daily things had taken place —nothing too out of the ordinary.
Well, maybe the visit to Verun might’ve been odd to start with…
Hearing how Yuto kept refusing her showing them a place to stay, Tori frowned, yet a hint of mischief remained. Leaning forward, her hands intertwined to hold her head, she smirked, teasing.
“Whatever the hell you say, I’m taking you there regardless” she said, “I’ll drag you, if I have to.” “Sheesh, you’re scary at times…” Neku said with unease. “…But Yuto’s right, Henoke —your weapon might not be done in a while” Tori leaned back, calming down, “It won’t take a week, surely, but it won’t be made immediately, either.” “Welp, if we’re all done here…” Neku mentioned, standing up while catching Tori off-guard. He glanced over at her, calmly, “How do we split?” “Excuse me?” Tori asked back, amused. “Well… We’re splittin’ the bill, aren’t we?” “Uhh… No, we’re not? Remember —you’re the one who decided to run off while in the middle of an errand. For Ashe, no less. You said you’d make it up for me, and this is how you can do it~” “Wha—Tori!” Neku immediately flared, flustered. “Wanna make it up for that? Then pay me lunch. Easy, isn’t it?” “Hrmm…” Neku clenched his fists, bitter, but gave up immediately, “Fiiiiiiiiiiine…”
Grumbling, the teen headed to the counter in order to pay, while Tori remained there, glancing over at him with a teasing and triumphant smirk. Still resting her head on her knotted hands, she hummed cheerfully.
“Dumbass thinks he can outsmart me…” she chuckled silently.
How long had it been, since she last teased her friends like that? Heck, since she last was with friends like that? The memory of it all caused her to smile, while Neku returned back after paying, still somewhat bitter at his defeat. In a battle of wits, it was clear that Tori was the winner.
Such was their rivalry, although a healthy one at that.
“Well… We can leave whenever. Where’d you plan on goin’ after this?” Neku asked, scratching the back of his head. “Hmm…” Tori stood up while thinking, “Well, starting from the Plaza might be nice. Maybe show them the Training Grounds, if we can get there on time. After that… Finishing by the Shacks, to help them settle in.” “Cool. Imma run around and fetch some quests. Might check the Board while I’m at it.” “That’d be nice.” “…Actually…” Neku’s devious grin caused Tori to tilt her head, “I might have a thing we can do to kill time tomorrow… After you help ‘em settle, meet me at the fountain. I’ll bring Mei along.” “Mei? Why?” Tori asked, curious. “I think she’d like the idea. So, what do ya say?” “…” Tori crossed her arms, thoughtful for a bit, before nodding, “Alright —we meet at the fountain.” “Cool! Then… I’ll catch ya later!”
Neku waved goodbye, running eagerly into the town’s crowd and disappearing almost immediately amongst it, leaving Tori with Henoke and Yuto. Turning towards them calmly, she waited for them.
“So, then —shall we get going?”
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 25, 2020 18:27:44 GMT -5
As Yuto reminded him about needing his weapon, Henoke deflated a bit—clearly having forgotten despite it being mentioned to him obviously. Hearing his friend evade the conversation of sleeping quarters, he raised an eyebrow at Yuto. Shrugging, he figured the guy had his own plans. ”Whatever the hell you say, I’m taking you there regardless.” Tori’s remark made Henoke chuckle, smirking as he shook his head as he eyed Yuto. ”Might as well give up, man—she’s stubborn~” There was a devious glint in his eyes as he teased her—though he meant well by it. ”Yuto’s right, Henoke—your weapon might not be done in a while.” The harsh reality made him groan a bit, falling back into his chair with a slight frown. ”Tch—if only I could use the…” Thankfully, Neku’s comment of splitting the bill distracted Henoke, who was definitely about to mention the word ‘Keyblade’ tactlessly.
Oh, right. He kept forgetting that things usually cost people Munny. Sighing in relief a bit as Neku finally submitted to paying for their meals, Henoke found himself thinking aloud. ”A Munny pouch…” He had ‘lost’ his upon his reawakening—since those who designed him decided a tool had no use for currency. ”I need to get one o’ those.” Sure, he had been lucking out so far—but he couldn’t just keep mooching off of his friends. It wasn’t like he could just use his pockets, either. With all of the fighting and world traveling he did, Munny would surely fall out of loose pockets. As Neku returned and had Tori explain their next destinations, it seemed the young mercenary had other things to do for the Guild. Hearing about ‘the Board’ and ‘quests’ got Henoke to glance at him with a hint of jealousy, curious about them himself. Sigh…soon. Once Verun finished his weapon. He’d have to be patient.
He sucked at that. ”Cool! Then…I’ll catch ya later!” Deciding on their plans for tomorrow, Neku ran off, leaving Henoke waving goodbye with a smile. ”So, then—shall we get going?” Henoke nodded, having finished his food to the point where the bowl was practically spotless. ”Yeah!” Standing up, he felt a new vigor fire up—it was nice, sharing a meal with friends. ”Let's go.” With a carefree grin, Henoke was excited to see what the Plaza had to offer, curious about what kind of wares and goods this world would have.
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Aug 25, 2020 18:48:20 GMT -5
”Whatever the hell you say, I’m taking you there regardless.” ”Might as well give up, man—she’s stubborn~” The two of them seemed serious about it. "Oh, I can tell." A wry smile played on his lips, almost as if to test said stubbornness. 'Seems like Henoke doesn't remember that I can do that.'
Neku's comment about splitting the bill caught Yuto's attention. He was about to hand the teen what munny he had until Tori told Neku he was on his own. 'Shame. Seems like it's only fair to pay for my food, but if he's got it...' Neku seemed in good spirits despite the news, so Yuto said nothing.
”So, then—shall we get going?” Yuto picked up his plate, which still had a decent amount of food on it, and leaned back. "Yeah, lemme just drop this off home real quick." With that, he opened a Dark Corridor beneath him, giving his friends a wink as he sunk into the floor.
A moment later he stepped out of another Corridor not far from the table he was sitting at, carrying the chair he took with him. The man walked up behind Tori and placed a hand on her shoulder before returning the chair. "So, you were gonna give us the tour?"
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Post by therunawaygirl on Aug 26, 2020 3:26:44 GMT -5
“Alright, then!”
Waiting for Yuto as he did what he wanted with his Corridor (not really surprised by it), Tori led the way. She had to admit, his control over it was really impressive. Being able to control where to go and how to do it with a Corridor took practice —practice she was truly astonished by.
The Plaza, as well as the town altogether, was slowly diving into the afternoon, the shadows growing a bit larger while offering respite from the tropical heat. The Chocobos were still eager, their noises drowning all else. Far less people now roamed the streets, and the few that were seemingly were passing by.
Time was shifting accordingly.
“Let’s see…” Tori brought one hand towards her chin, “Where could we start…?”
She wandered somewhat aimless, her pace calm enough for Henoke and Yuto to follow. It was as if she was making her plan as she went along, although she hardly thought it bad. With so many things to see, anywhere was a good start.
The first sight to see was the Council building. Henoke had already seen it before, as he and Tori went to pick up Verun’s delivery. The building stood tall, noticeably different from the ones around it. Its somewhat elegant façade, a pale yellow, shone softly against the sunlight. Tori stopped at the front, looking up to the 2-story building calmly.
“This is the Council” she explained, “It’s a noticeable landmark if we need to meet somewhere. And also where most things are settled. A government, so to speak” she finished, turning towards the two, and pointed opposite to it, “From here… Down this path, you can get to the Academy and the Training Grounds” she turned to the east, “And down there’s the Shacks —our finish line.”
With a smirk, Tori headed to the Training Grounds, the next place on the list. It would help for them to know about it, given how good of a training place it was. Hence, obviously, the name.
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Post by hoodwink on Aug 26, 2020 7:46:37 GMT -5
”Yeah, lemme just drop this off home real quick.” For a second, Yuto’s statement confused him before the dark corridor appeared. Taking a step back and shouting out in surprise as the sudden portal appeared, the teen couldn’t help but once more be slightly envious of his friends powers. Recalling some of the other tricks up their sleeve, Henoke smirked as Yuto emerged once more behind Tori. ”Pffft—show off.” Laughing and shaking his head as he waved a hand, Henoke gave Yuto a nudge with his elbow as Tori led the way away from the tavern. ”Still not gonna show me how’ta do those moves, huh?” The real one he wanted to learn was that cool black fire. It looked badass. ”Let’s see…” Standing in the plaza, Henoke gazed around at the late afternoon thrum—less active than earlier but still more people than he had ever seen in once place.
I wonder what they’re all doin’? Though he was sure there were those roaming for the sake of roaming, others seemed to walk with purpose. As they walked, he found himself distracted, forgetting about looking for a Munny Pouch altogether. Each person living here intrigued him—wondering about their lives and their destinations. ”This is the Council.” Tori’s voice caused his gaze to snap back, his feet stopping as he gawked at the tall yellow building. ”It’s a noticeable landmark if we need to meet somewhere. And also where most things are settled.” Nodding as Tori spoke, the teen definitely thought the place stood out. Even he felt confident that he could find it if he wound up separated from everyone. Government, huh? Crossing his arms and scrunching up his brow a bit, he struggled to recall if his own world had had anything like that. Following Tori’s finger as she pointed out the Academy and the Training Grounds, the teen wondered how many other people his age there were on the island.
They had already ran into Neku, who was apparently also bringing someone else over tomorrow. Henoke found himself grinning with excitement as he followed Tori with Yuto to the Training Grounds, realizing he never got this kind of opportunity. For the first time since the mock visit to his home world, the teen felt…normal.
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