#quests.

[zerohawks]

Hii, for the event 002, my name is Maria (or mia, as a nickname) and favorite color is pink

MARIA + PINK

[greyliliy]

*rips shirt*

Talk to me about Fallout 4.

[levixculus]

hush little baby - levi, wes; quest.

"Shh, shh."

Baby Rosa might have been an NPC, but she responded exactly the way most babies would have.  Her cries mimicked plenty of the ones Levi had heard in the busy sidewalks and department stores of New York - all that was missing was a mother telling the baby to simmer down while she tried to haggle.  There was no mother to calm the baby down while she attempted to get a discount;  Levi had to step in.

"Shhh, it's okay, Rosa," Levi pulled the upset infant closer to him, gently bringing her to his chest.  He rocked her back and forth gently;  a gentle smile came to him as he watched her settle into a soft calmness.  Even if baby Rosa was a NPC, she still elicited that same warm feeling babies did.  "There you go," Levi spoke to the now relaxed infant, "See, everything's going to be alright."

With baby Rosa now calmed and quiet, Levi looked up to see where his current quest partner was headed.  With Swynden being their destination, Levi hoped that this trip wouldn't lead into the night.  Traveling at night, even in a group was a dangerous, dangerous task.  He looked up for a split second.  The sun was still high, so they had a good few hours to get there but he wanted to make sure they could there faster.  If they were attacked, Levi would be hindered.  As cute as babies were, they would be terrible during attacks.

"Do you happen to know any shortcuts to Swynden?  Any faster routes?" Levi asked of his quest partner, hoping for a helpful answer.

[shuttxr]

dear diary; solo.

I've never been good at writing. I've never been too good with words.

This entry had been started nearly three days ago and true to his word, Shutter proved that writing was not a strength of his. Words were tricky; they could be strung together and made beautifully but if a fragment, a pause or even an emphasis was left out, the whole meaning changed. The most beautiful of words carefully brought together could entice, capture and trap someone; the most destructive of words come out and the most painful consequences could happen.

Shutter was aware.

He knew its troubles.

It was a Wednesday. The fight, the dumb argument. I don't remember all that it was about -- blankets and pillowcases, I think? I forgot to wash them. I don't even remember why I forgot to wash them, but I know that's why it happened. I wish I said I was sorry. I should have, but I'm an idiot sometimes.

I wish I apologized but I said something stupid instead. That was a dick move of me. I'm sorry, I'm really, really sorry. I'm an idiot, I know.

You're a saint.

You forgave me.

Shutter frowned. His brows knitted, evident frustration in the creases; a pang of guilt tapped against his chest as he wrote these words. These words not trapped, not only in the game but also within himself. 

I wonder how long I'll be in here for. I hope I get out soon. 

We pushed the date back already - you thought June was too cliched, remember? I said it was fine, but you wanted it to be less cliched. What did you say that time, "A special day is supposed to be special, not some cliche that every girl dreams of when they're five!" 

I thought your five year old self was cute.

Especially her dreams.

He looked at the scrawlings he put on the paper. His writing had never looked too neat. He wished they did, especially since what he was writing about was worth more than just chicken scratch. 

A diary. That's what it was supposed to be. So chicken scratch could have been acceptable, but Shutter decided this wasn't going to be a diary entry.

It was a letter.

I don't think I'm going to be walking on graduation alongside you and everyone else. I missing it this year. I'll miss all of it, but I'm proud of you! 

I knew you'd get to the end, even if you would claim the world was crushing you with defeat. I didn't mind driving to get you milkshakes and curly fries at two AM, you know. Burning the midnight oil needs a lot of fuel! Besides, it gave me a reason to visit you.

I might not be at graduation, but I was there with you through every step. I was your biggest cheerleader and we both know I look horrible in a skirt - I still owe you a skirt, sorry for ripping it.

I'm proud of you.

When I get out, I'll be the first person you should tend to. I'll be extra whiney, since I've missed you.

... I miss you.

I can't get over how much I miss you. 

I don't think I've ever missed anyone this much.

A lot of things here remind me of you. The mountains here look amazing - you'd love them if you were here. I'll climb the tallest one and look at the view for you. I wish I had our camera, so you can see it too.

Shutter stopped. He took a deep breath and looked up. It was hard to write when his vision had suddenly become blurry; when tears threatened to fall, it made it hard to see clearly. He rose his arm up, gently wiping away those unfallen tears. 

There was some solace in night's blanket surrounding him, after all.

I know you're going to blame yourself for this, but you shouldn't. You were right, Wade would open up to me in the game and it worked for awhile. We talked and joined forces - we're closer than before.

He worries me still.

I'm trying.

I don't think I'll stop trying, but it gets tough. You always told me to quit whining and get to going - everyone thinks I'm a tough guy, but really, you're tougher than I am. You're kinder, sweeter and more selfless than I am; I'm trying to be as kind and generous and optimistic as you are.

You'd do a better job than I would.

But I'm getting there.

Everyone here is having a tough time. I am too, but you taught me that even the slightest glimmer of hope is enough to help you find your way out.

You're my hope.

Shutter leaned back against the tree trunk. He closed his eyes and only one person showed up. Briefly, he swore he could smell that faint floral scent that graced him in the mornings; those lips he'd tasted so often formed a smile he wished he could see in person again. He didn't want to open his eyes, but as he did, he felt his heart drop.

Virtual reality may have been what some people wanted, but Shutter had something better in the real world.

She was in the real world.

Remember when we went to the beach? You said you already started working on vows and I said I didn't start yet? You shoved a marshmallow in my mouth and told me I was lame, but you said you had faith in me. I told you that I'm no good with words, but right now, I'm looking forward to getting a chance to tell you:

I love you.

I know I did, I have and I do.

You are perfect. You always complain to me when I say that you are - you said you don't believe in perfection. But when I say you are perfect, it doesn't mean Webster's definition - when I say you are perfect, I mean that despite anything and everything that has happened and will happen, I love you wholly and completely. Everything about you is perfect.

You are perfect.

And that's why I'm trying so hard to get out of here. 

I want to see you again.

We have a date to get to and I know you're waiting for it. I don't want to keep you waiting too long. I hate making you wait, so soon.

I'll see you soon.

Love always, Elliot

[shuttxr]

dinner bells || pixie, shutter.

The journey from Swynden to Aelbourne did not take as long as it did when Shutter first started the game and it was lucky too. Especially since he promised a meal to someone.

"Almost there," Shutter smiled happily as he continued his walk. He slid his scythe into the compartment on is back. There was no need for to hold it out while he was in Aelbourne, there weren't too many monsters for him to worry about. 

Aelbourne was exactly as he remembered it, however. Plenty of players settled around the area, a good variety of them looked young and still a little scared. Shutter felt bad for them. He stopped a few times to lend a helping hand; potions were pricey for new players, so he made sure to give some away. All he'd do in return is smile and keep going.

Shutter stopped in mid-step and realized one very important detail: "I forgot to ask her where we were going to meet up in Aelbourne. Oh, crap. ... I'll keep walking around and look for her. Hopefully, she's near by."

[shuttxr]

into the darkness; shutter and penumbra.

Shutter hated bats.

There was a vivid and evident expression of displeasement across Shutter's facial features. Everything about him did not read happy, nor did it hold his usual sunny disposition: bats had a way of making the boy angry. He knitted his brows together, annoyance and frustration muddled through every part of him. 

"Damn it," Shutter cursed as his fingers curled around the hilt of his most trusted weapon. A scythe was normally not one associated with the most pleasant of things; death's symbol was revered with fear and loathing, but the irony belonged in the hands of Shutter. It was often said that a reaper would use its scythe to bring an end to a person's life but Shutter used his own to protect lives. There was more at stake in the game than just a few experience points, after all.

Swynden was a location where experience points could easily be received. At least, if you were a new player, points in Swynden and Aelbourne came easy but like all major games, the higher your level, the more difficult it was to acquire points. Shutter never came to these low leveled towns for experience points, he had different reasons for visiting. Usually, he would be called on for help. This visit was that sole reason. However, since his original intent was completed, it was time for the boy to do some exploring of his own. Unfortunately, it had to do with bats.

From where he stood, he felt the cool, damp wave of air from the Swynden caves. He took a deep breath and he swore he could smell the bats. A frown formed  and he accepted defeat: he'd go face the bats but first, he looked around.

"Where is that guy?"

[levixculus]

and we'll be counting stars; quest.

The stars in Naxis always seem so beautiful. Sometimes, even more beautiful than the views some are accustomed to in the world outside. There are nights when those stars look so close, so tangible and so enchanting that players forget they are trapped in the land of Naxis.

Quest:

WRITE A SHORT SELF-PARA ABOUT THE THOUGHTS YOUR CHARACTER HAS WHILE THEY ARE STARGAZING.

“And that’s yet another constellation that I’m pretty sure doesn’t exist in the real world,” a muffled laugh came from Leviculus as he mused over the stars that shone above.  It was safe to say that he had never seen as many stars in the outside world as he did tonight;  the city lights of New York shadowed the beauty of the heavens above, masking them from any form of admiration within the city limits.  For his entire life, Levi had lived in the busy, crowded streets of New York.  Occasionally, he would get the chance to venture away but never long enough to admire the stars.

The man laid back, resting against the cool grass.  A soft whisper of the nighttime breeze shuddered past, lightly raising the leaves from their silence.

“So, this is what Thoreau must have felt like,” Levi mused.  Walden was one of the many books that were often left on his desk;  plenty of books were scattered about his apartment, a cacophony of mixed genres and authors.  He wondered if Naxis had any books, or old scriptures and scrolls about the lore of the world.  Video games had their backgrounds and stories.  If the creator had been this detailed in making the world as realistic as possible, he wondered if she managed to make the civilizations of Naxis have their own history.

It wouldn’t surprise him if that were the case.

At this point, Levi had decided to suspend the reality he knew.

Naxis was a different reality.

Gently, he placed his arms behind his head - a more comfortable position for him.  His eyes watched the dark skies above, enjoying their vivid view.  A wave of quiet tranquility washed over him, claiming his entire being.  Despite knowing the dangers that loomed around him, for this moment, Levi felt safe.  His lips pressed together into a gentle smile as he gazed at the stars above.  How many other players were looking at the night sky?  He hoped they felt just as safe.

The man sat up, opening his menu interface.  After pressing a few of the floating images, he held two of his most favored items:  a pen and journal.  As a writer, Levi never left without either.  This game included.  Luckily, Naxis allowed them to write journal entries.  He picked up the familiar pen and jotted down a few lines:

“There's a galaxy in your eyes, One you have yet to realize. A world of wonder to amaze, Let me enjoy your gaze. The skies are bright tonight, But they'd be dimmed by your sight.”

Levi smiled, resting himself back down against the grass.  There were many things in the world of Naxis that he hadn’t fully grasped in its entirety, but at the very least, he still had his words.  Words were the stars to his constellations - as long a he can connect those solitary words together, he can construct a beautiful creation.

The night sky sure is a beautiful thing.