light the flame.

[blazinglaurels]

ZENLESS ZONE ZERO ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀一 lighter !

one of the coolest but most awkward dudes you will ever meet in your life

part of the sons of calydon, a biker group that helps transport goods and keep the peace in the outskirts of new eridu

that means he has a fancy motorcycle he knows how to handle very well

known as the "red scarf" of the sons of calydon, usually bringing a lot of attention his way whether in the form of fangirls or people who want to fight him

also the champion of the sons, meaning he handles the one on one fights and battles when his biker gang is challenged by another

used to be a mercenary, though has since given up that life due to a mistake he made that hangs over his head every day

would you believe he doesn't smoke? he quit ages ago thanks to his old merc buddies, instead choosing lollipops to release his stress (grape is his favorite)

uses his fists when in a fight, decked out in a custom gauntlet that uses flames made by his biker family

「 APPLICATION 」「 STATISTICS 」「 PLOTTER 」

[blazinglaurels]

❝ Never know what you miss 'til it's gone. In this case... it's a little too quiet. Almost forgot it was my birthday without the usual ruckus of the gang thinking they're slick about the surprises they're gettin' up to. Did it feel like this for you, celebrating your birthday in this place? ❞ he says it with a hint of a smile, as if reminiscing about it, though the question still stands as he looks the person's way.

[animasend]

" .....The year is almost over, isn't it?"

" Time continues to pass without a care in the world and no mercy, as always."

[blazinglaurels]

❝ Yeah. Got that right. Hard to think that the time we spend here ain't gonna add up to the time outside of this place here, too. Facin' it is like grappling with an oiled up piglet who keeps on slipping away from you. ❞

[phaeproxy]

He wasn't sure protocol here, but he figured he should at least wait outside of the place to meet up with Lighter. It'd definitely be a lot for him to have to scan the crowd.

Tugging on his own clothes, unused to formality, he shifts in his shoes until he sees a familiar face. Waving him down, he pushes away the text about getting the heart pumping, ignoring his own.

"Well, it's no Cheesetopia,"

"But I poked my head in, and the food looks pretty good." Something casual to talk about, it's fine. Belle would definitely be making fun of him by now for how awkward he was being.

@blazinglaurels

[blazinglaurels]

HIS OWN CLOTHES AREN'T SO EXTRAVAGANT. when had he ever dressed up fancy before, come to think? but he put in his best effort to at least try, even with the sunglasses and red scarf still present on his attire. ❝ Good grub is a given at any bash. I'd be shocked if there wasn't some kinda good eats, ❞ he chimes, tugging at his scarf a little in order to adjust it better.

still, seeing wise dressed up, even if it wasn't to the outright nines, only caused his heart to flutter just a bit more. knowing that he'd dressed up just for him didn't help that factor in the slightest.

❝ You clean up good. All that's missin' is some swagger, Manager. ❞ he puts one hand in his pocket, soon heading in with the other before the chill in the air got to them. and boy, was wise not kidding, seeing the tables decked out in food and every kind of drink one could imagine. ❝ This shindig really is pretty glitzy, ain't it? I feel like I'm stickin' out like a sore thumb out here. ❞

[blazinglaurels]

[text] Hey! You wanna go to this ball thing? [Attachment: Invitation] [text] I've been to some fancy-ish events before, but nothing like this.

EYEING UP THE ATTACHED INVITATION, he isn't sure if wise sent this to the wrong person or not. after all, when would he be the first in mind to go to something as extravagant as a ball unless he was meant to be security? but he'd give the benefit of the doubt... not to mention he couldn't ignore the way his heart raced just a smidgen.

[ txt ] A party, huh [ txt ] Interesting [ txt ] You asking so casually though... talk about getting the heart pumping [ txt ] But anything I gotta know? [ txt ] Fanciest gig the desert has is game nights at Cheesetopia

[learnspells]

@blazinglaurels

location: the boardwalk, golden ward

ʚїɞ - It hadn't been Fern's plan to be out so late that night, but one thing had led to another and she ended up passing through the boardwalk closer to midnight. It had been more or less uneventful, and even if she had been attacked she was confident that she could handle it herself. But the sound of other people fighting had drawn her down onto the beach and under one of the hoisted docks.

Several men were downed, with one still standing. Had she walked in one some sort of contest, or had he been attacked?

"Um... Are you alright? ...Assuming you didn't just attack them for no good reason, anyways." Her fingers twitched. She'd manifest her staff if he turned out to be a danger to her, but something about his back didn't give her that impression.

[blazinglaurels]

HONESTLY, IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. being out so late with a bunch of these other guys face down eating pavement, he could have very well been arrested if the wrong person came into play. only this time, it seemed like he lucked out to some degree, not having it be a law enforcement officer. no, it seems like she was just a passerby who happened upon the little late night scuffle. ❝ Yeah, I'm good, ❞ he replies, brushing off his sleeve from some dust.

he turns around, giving a glance at the one who had asked before adjusting his sunglasses. why else would he be wearing them at night other than to look cool?

❝ Just some guys running their mouths about having big game. But if you ask me? If they need to gang up on somebody to pull out a win, they're small fry. ❞ and he was the one to put them in their place. maybe after a little coaxing when they initially stepped in, but... ❝ Hey, you lost? It's pretty late out. Not getting up to any trouble yourself, are ya? ❞

[phaeproxy]

"I was starting to get worried I wouldn't know anybody here." He holds the warm cup in his hands, still bitter from the growing wind chill. "But it must be even weirder for you, to have to live in a city like this." Lighter rarely liked to come to New Eridu, and he couldn't blame him.

And this city - island, apparently - was very much not New Eridu. Everything was...Not 'old' tech necessarily, if anything they hadn't returned to anything retro without a specialty shop. It was throwing him off.

There even was something similar to an HDD system, but...

"I did hear there was a desert area, but I haven't really checked it out."

@blazinglaurels

[blazinglaurels]

IT'S RELIEVING, SEEING HIM HERE. now the only worry is if belle would show up or not, knowing that the two being separated might cause concern for the proxy before him. still, he has to admit it's nice to not feel so alone amidst an unknown city, especially when he's someone who isn't fond of new eridu as it was. but again, this wasn't new eridu, it was a little more manageable but it still didn't quite feel like home.

then again, perhaps nothing would but the actual thing—

❝ Yeah. Was startin' to feel the same. I haven't been here long, but not having any of the gang around, let alone our two managers? Might as well have started dressing up the cacti in the desert here and name them after you guys, ❞ he teases, taking a sip of his own drink, the warmth if brings refreshing amidst the cold that he isn't so used to. ❝ But you're right. It's called the Land of Burnt Umber. Wanna give it a look with me? ❞ he'd scoped it out before, though not to a thorough degree. really, he was mostly interested in seeing how similar it was and, in future, if he wanted to park there permanently for as long as he was here.

❝ Don't got my bike, but I can still give you a ride on my back, if you'd like. ❞ was he joking? chances are maybe, but the way he says it...

[blazinglaurels]

❝ Halloween, huh? Never had a chance to participate in stuff like that. It'd be nice. Think adults can participate in it without crashing the vibe, too? ❞

[121231212i]

Zenless Zone Zero | Lighter