Meeting someone through music [Closed]

[Steel]

"I spent enough time working on my subclass stuff, it's time to go hunting!" Steel said as he walked around town. The day had already turned into evening but Steel thought he still had some time to hunt, even if he wouldn't have anyone to party with as not many people like hunting during the evening time. He took out the map he had made a week or two ago and began searching for the gate leading into the woods. I'm glad I made this map. I still have trouble finding my way around town. It also helps me chart out new areas I haven't explored yet. Steel thought to himself. He was feeling glad for having chosen the scribe subclass. The Courtesan subclass however was another story. He hasn't found too much of a use yet and hasn't really used it much, on purpose anyway. Once in a while, it activated on his own as if it were a running gag from some manga or anime, attracting people's attention despite his simple attire. Even though he couldn't see any use for it, Steel was stubborn and refused to change subclasses until he found a practical use for it. The reason being that an acquaintance of his from the Japanese server had told him that there was potential for every subclass. As he finished off these thoughts, he found himself at the gate. Well, time to get moving I guess. Steel thought to himself before beginning to walk towards it. It was then he noticed a little girl with a tail, one of the fox tail race. Seeing the girl, he couldn't help but wonder whether this girl should be out in the forest during this time. "Little girl, are you sure you should be going out there during this time of day?" He asked the girl as he put his hand on her shoulder to stop her. When she turned around, he had the sense that he got it wrong. "I just got the feeling that we're actually the same age. Sorry if that earlier comment sounded offensive to you."

vixi

[vixi]

The large gates of the city stood lone and quite after their years of defending the city, always a valuable ally of those that lived behind the grand stone defender. Though the walls hadn't seen much action since the late great wars they stood as an ever present sign that the city was never going to be conquered by those from the outside, not a goblin or an army would be allow to siege the good people inside. While the people of the land sought to hide in the mostly peaceful building, the adventures were a different type, not comfy with the idea of being stuck in a finite area. On the edges of the town is where the border of safety and danger began, where those that meant harm and those that provided safety were divide, and that was just where Vixi was today, not out for blood lust, quests or money... just laying in wait, watching the beauty of the world as time went by.

The simple and quite nature of the girl kept her at bay from killing the low leveled creatures that kept to these areas, no more than deer, foxes and other wild life, nothing of which would cause much threat to her. Nearby a small group of deer graze quitly on the low grasses, seeming almost oblivious of the young girl as she watched in awe with every small movement they made. While not a people person Vixi very much enjoyed the company of animals compared to others of her own race, or even any race too be exact. She often wondered if is should have chosen animal trainer as one of her classes but it was too late to go back for her wasn't it?

With her eyes so focused on the grazing deer ahead Vixi was completely unaware to the approaching person until his hand was upon her. Jumping with the sudden touch Vixi gave out a high pitched squeal and sprang forward a good ten feet before she whipped about on her feet to face the stranger, her tail gusting around behind her in a orange blur of movement. In the heat of the moment she had barely taken notice of what he had said but his words repeated over in her head till she was able to make out what he said.

"...It's fine...." Her voice trailed off, her eyes not daring to meet his gaze as she glanced back towards the gates of the town.

"Still safe...." She thought to her self, even though she was just on the edge of the town it was still considered a safe area too adventures, there was no chance of any harm coming to her.

Now faced with this stranger she had some options too her disposal, leave and go back to town or stay and watch the deer once again. As Vixi turned to face the direction from before she noticed that in her display of movement the deer had taken off, most likely startled by her actions.

"Aw...pooh...." Vixi spoke sadly as her ears drooped down slightly.

[Steel]

Steel noticed the deer run away after he began speaking and the girl in front of him became saddened by the said animal leaving the scene, probably because she was watching it and he mentally panicked because he didn't like seeing people sad. Crap, I wasn't meaning to create a bad first impression or to make her sad. Steel thought to himself as he tried to think of an idea. I got it! If the creatures here are alive like The People of the Land are after the Apocalypse, then I can do this! Steel thought to himself with a bit of a smile once he got a plan in order. "Sorry about scaring off the deer, let me make it up to you." Steel said to the girl in front of him as he patted her on the head out of habit due to her height and walked in front of her. He put his hands together and blew into them, creating a gentle sound that resembled an animal call. Not too long after that, the deer came back with curiosity on its face. "I didn't hang out with others much in the real world so I picked up strange tricks like this." He said to the girl in a whisper, making sure not to scare the deer again. I didn't think an animal call from the real world would actually work though. It just shows that they're living creatures too I guess. Steel thought to himself with a sense of surprise.

vixi

[vixi]

Now that the wild life seemed to have vacated the area it was only but the two of them here now, the lone fox girl and the Alvian man, it was an easy site for her to recognize the man as having Alvian in his blood, the pointy ears were a iconic symbol of his people. She could faintly make out the gentle winds that blew above, the tall trees surrounding the city kept most of the winds from brushing against people as they ventured deeper into the thicket ahead. Places like the woods were not a place that she would fair well in, that was for real adventures...not someone like her.

Sighing heavily to herself Vixi wasn't sure what to do now... there was this strange man before her, one of which caused the gentle dear to vanish from sight... partly she was anger at him... but at the same time it was half her fault as well, had she not been so frightened they might still be there. The flicker of rage was extinguished just as quickly as it was ignited leaving an empty hole inside her... well there was always another day, maybe it was time to leave and venture back to her hiding place for the night....

Speaking to Vixi once again she glanced towards his direction though her eyes never met his, aiming just short of his chin, only letting her see the movements of his jaw. She was more than willing to forgive the man as blame was on both parties though she thought noting of speaking... people...people were not her strong suit.

It was with the suddenness of his hand on her head that made her body lock up like a stone statue, even causing her breath to halt mid breath. Vixi, while she would never speak of it, Vixi hated to be touched, it did not matter who it was, or what title they might have held she grimaced with fear and anger with even the smallest touch... though she had learned how to bottle it up well over time. As quickly as his hand left her head did Vixi cover her palms over the place where he had touched her running her long white fingers through the long orange hair, as if she was covering a fresh wound to keep it from bleeding.

A long soft whisel blew through the air causing Vixi's ears to twitch about with the musical sound, it was like playing an instrument, a soothing note that sent odd trickels down her spine... it was an odd feeling that she had not felt before but it caused her too look up at the man given that he was bit deal taller than she was or ever would be. Cocking her head to one side with question at what he was doing it soon became clear as the soft hoofs on the grassy ground came back into her hearing. A lone deer stood in the open field, its eyes set on the beckoning call that sent it running towards them. Though Vixi could not speak the language of the deer it had the same look of curiosity and confusion that Vixi held.

"...how...how did you do that?" Her voice came out weak, but not to soft that he wouldn't be able to hear her.

A smile broke through her lips at new found site of the deer, how long had it been since her shining teeth had seen the light of day? Making sure to keep her movements slow Vixi inched her way forward towards the creature making sure not to case it off once more. Keeping low too the ground too keep herself less threatening (as if she wasn't already 2 feet shorter than the deer) she reached out with her hand towards the deer, hoping it would allow her to touch it...and not trample her body.

[Steel]

Steel just laughed gently at the girl's question. He was glad that she now had a smile on her face rather than her depressed tone from earlier. It also seemed that she was still shy. "It's called hand whistling, I can teach you how to do it later if you want." He said relatively quietly as to not disturb the deer again. He then noticed that this scenario was similar to a memory from the past. Ah, that's right, Kyousuke talked to me and taught me random stuff like this. What's happening right now is the same except this time, I have Kyousuke's role. He thought to himself with a bit of a smile out of reminiscence. It was then his thoughts were interrupted as he noticed the girl try to interact with the deer once more, using her short stature to show the creature that she wasn't a threat. Steel couldn't help but laugh a little at how cautious she was being and remembered an easier way that worked in real life. Since the animal call worked, this method should work too. He quietly stood up and grabbed something from the ground a few feet away. He walked back and motioned for the girl he just met to hold out her hand. When she did, he put a handful of grass in her palm. "Watch this." He whispered to her as he showed his own handful of grass. Taking the handful of grass, he held it out and offered it to the deer. The animal walked over and began eating out of his hand. While it was doing that, Steel gently petted its head. Once it had finished the grass on his hand, Steel turned to the girl. "You wanna try?" He asked in a whisper with a smile.

vixi

[vixi]

"Hand...whistling...." The words escaped over her lips as she repeated what he had just said, it was a term she had heard before but never had she seen someone one do it up close and personal. The idea of learning the skill was something that Vixi would be very much interested in, every musical art she could learn expanded her musical talent ever further... even if it was a simple call she thought there was a way she could incorporate it into a song... something poetic maybe? A great Epic of the lands? Or maybe a sweet tale between a knight and the princesses he so desprently wished to save. While being taught by someone else... was not much of an appealing idea... it did have it benefits but right now there was the matter of the deer to be dealt with as her hand held nearby frozen out in front of her waiting for acceptance or a quick beat down from the majestic creature of nature.

"Come on... just one touch...." She whispered under her breath towards the deer, though she knew all too well that her words might have well as been said to a stone wall and have the same effect.

Hearing the soft chuckles coming from the man Vixi turned her head to see what it had been that had been so funny but it wasn't until she thought of just what she was doing that she thought it maybe a bit over the top. Cheeks turning a light shade of pink she huffed slightly making her cheeks puff up towards the man all the while though she never met his gaze. It was then that the man took a detour and ripped a bundle of grass blades from the soil and came back to her side, which only caused her to side step away a few inches from his presence with a small shiver.

Even with her small shift in position she still found herself greatly intruded in what he was doing... grass? Was...he going to feed it? She had only ever seen such things in cartoons... but she never thought that it actually worked...right? Holding his out stretched palm towards the deer Vixi watching in silence as the creature looked the two of them over for a few seconds before it decided to lean its head down and take the offering that had been presented too it.

"It work?...it worked...." Vixi mumbled with a sense of shock in her voice not completely believing that the trick had indeed worked.

With an unsure nod of her head Vixi reached down to the the soft grass and picked a few blades into her hand, nervously she looked back up at the looming creature hesitating to feed the creature from her own hand. Taking a deep breath she held out her hand with the small offering too the creature, had she had more than the simple plant she would have given it more... but even the creature ate better than she did.

[Steel]

"See? There's nothing to be afraid of." Steel said with a smile as the girl began to pet the deer on the head. "Earlier, you had a look on your face showing disbelief in whether my idea would work. There's a saying that goes 'Don't knock it till you try it'. Just because an idea sounds ridiculous or sounds like something straight out of a cartoon doesn't mean it won't work. You won't know until you try it out yourself. Don't be afraid to try something new. It might just turn out good." Once the deer was done eating out of the girl's hand, Steel fed the deer again. "I guess here's another tip that could help with interacting with others or animals. Just do what we did here, meet them halfway. If you just keep to yourself, you won't get anywhere but if you just get in their face, you'll scare them off. What we did with the grass is the same as extending a hand in friendship." Geez, I'm sounding like Kyousuke a lot nowadays. Steel thought to himself afterwards.

vixi

[vixi]

Though 'afraid' wasn't the ideal word she would have used for her emotions... while yes there was a chance the deer just could have easily stamped her into a small puddle into the ground she was more wary of the creature than anything. She had only ever seen the creatures from afar, never daring to get any close than twenty feet from the majestic wild life, they were easily startled and she knew that their large antlers could do some serious damage to her frail body, enough to kill but the pain was something she was really trying to avoid. Had it not been for the assistance for the man she might have never gotten the chance to do that... so she was thankful of that... maybe... she should say something about it?... A small frown appeared on her face as she paused at the thought, her fingers gently resting on the back of the deers head, the rough coarse fur rubbing against her skin. Vixi was not the sort too say much, or even going as far too thank someone for a kind deed as often it didn't happen... how long had it been since the she had seen a good dead since coming here?

Vixi let a small sigh escape her mouth at the man's words, it was true, as long as she knew just how to work with the cearture then it wasn't difficult to... 'talk' too them in a sense. She thought that the fact to get animals to trust her all she had to do was feed them slightly humorous as it was the same with humans, gaining trust through tasty foods or even small gifts like chocolate or jewelry... when it came down too it most forms of life where more similar than people noticed, thinking themselves better over animals because they were smarter.

Shifting her hand out of the way the man began to feed the deer once more, its flat long tounge lapping at the small blades of grass till it could motion them inside its mouth where she could hear the soft munches that it made, almost like that of a cow... they did both eat grass after all. Resuming her small strokes she let her hand trace down the deers neck following a long white patch that ran the length of its body till the very tip of the tail, it was almost as if someone had taken a paint brush too the creatures back, coating it in a single white stoke, she thought it went very well with its short brown fur though she couldn't imagine when the creature took its last bath... if ever. Even with the small amounts of grime that held to its fur it still look far more beautiful up close than it did from being so far away... she wondered if she would be able to ride one, but such an idea was foolish, she had never even riding a horse let alone try to ride a deer, and with now riding skills she would most likely just fall like a rock back onto the ground. It was best not to push the idea or small trust that they were developing with the animal, maybe another day once the creature trusted them more.

Finding herself at the large flank of the creature she turned to gaze over at the man as he was on his knees before the deer, feeding it the small grasses from his out stretched open palm, he sure did look happy doing it but his eyes seemed to else where, thinking perhaps? Shy but curious was a strange combination but it was who she was, it seemed that whenever she entered the game and awoke in the chapel something inside her mind had changed, a sudden want... no drive, to want to know, to explore and inquire about new things... she thought it was brought on due to her races nature but there was really no way she would ever know. It seemed like the Fox Tail of this world were similar to foxes back home, curious, sneaky and highly playful, maybe one day she would get around to asking one of her kind of this... though she doubted that they would understand just what she meant of it.

"...Thank you... for showing me this...." Her frail voice came out as she gently stroked the deers ears, she wondered if the deer was actually enjoying this or doing tolerating this for some free food... though it wasn't as thought the area wasn't littered with grass.

Shying off a few feet to the side of the deer Vixi partially covered her mouth with her hand as her face reddened slightly at the thought of actually speaking too him, it was not her nature to speak with other... but he seemed....

"...what- what brings you out here?" Yet again her curiosity getting the best of her, the search for questions and answers driving her out of her shell if only for a few seconds.

[Steel]

At this point, the deer didn't really care about the grass, maybe it was full or something, and just let the two humans in front of it pet its body. It even sat down as best as a four legged animal could to make it easier on Steel and the girl. I'm glad it's not a monster or else this would be harder." Steel thought to himself thinking about how the things that were considered animals and the things that were considered monsters acted quite different despite the fact that they had their similarities. I wonder what sets them apart? He thought before he heard the girl thank him for showing her how to get closer to a deer, breaking his train of thought. In response, he turned towards her again and just gave her a smile. "No problem, it was my pleasure to do so. I thought it was rather fun finding out whether little tricks and such from the real world would work here. I also thought it was fun to show you those tricks." It was then he noticed that the girl had covered her mouth with her hand and began moving a few feet away, practically hiding behind the deer's side. She also seemed to be reddening in the face a little due to either embarrassment or shyness. She's not good with talking to others huh? I know how that feels like. Steel thought to himself remembering his past a little. "Um, are you alright over there?" He asked the girl hiding behind the deer. Rather than a response, the girl replied with another question. She was asking him what he was doing out here. "Well, earlier I was on my way out into the forest to do some training but then I saw you and now we're petting this deer. I'm Steel by the way, what's your name?"

vixi

[vixi]

Lowering its self to the ground Vixi could finally look over the creature from above, being as short as she was she was often thought of as much younger than she looked, it made trying to see over things such as the deer much more difficult than it could be for others. Now hovering over the creature Vixi thought it odd to see the creature from such a strange angle, she had never seen a deer from above before, it looked a little funny as she laughed on the inside at it. Crouching down on her knees Vixi came closer to the creature stroking in a repeating pattern down its neck too its long white strip and then followed it too the mid of its back. The texture of its coat had not been...what she had been expecting, it was rough to the touch... but it wasn't that which she found odd, it was realism of it all. Not long ago this had been just a game to everyone, the People of the land where just simple NPC's and monsters where just something players killed to get Exp, there was no feeling of winds on her face or the sun tanning her white skin... how was is that everything was... just so real now? The idea had been something she'd been thinking about for quite some time now, with so much free time on her hands it gave her plenty of time to sit back and think of the new world around them... why had been then taken here, for what reason... and how could they?

"Trick?" Vixi whispered under her breath at his words.

"Is he not an animal trainer?...I guess real world skills were transferred over as well... I mean, at my level I should be a novice at playing a flute... but I still play as if I was back home...maybe a little better... what else would that apply too?"

"It was...nice...." She turned her head away from his gaze and back onto the back of the deer, her small finger tracing circles in its coarse hair, even as warm as a welcome that he was trying to give her it was hard for Vixi to open herself too another, even when he said if she was alright Vixi was quick to nod her head up and down, not needing to say anything if her body actions could do it for her.

"Training huh? Typical of that of an adventurer... I guess some people still just see this as a world that they need to become the strongest in it and conquer over other... guess some things really don't change." Her words passed around her mind as she looked over her direction thinking just what to say too him... she didn't think he would much prefer what she really thought of it... no one seemed to care much of her opinion, one of the many reasons she kept to herself.

"Steel...Steel...." Her mouth repeated the word in silence letting each and every letter slide over her tongue, it was an odd name, even in this place... maybe it was for his hair... or maybe from the blade he wielded... there where thousands of reasons why that could have been his name, but it was her name that he was more curious in. Her name... Vixi... it was something she didn't give out freely, she knew it was rude but... there were more things than just manners when it came to this new world, she never knew who it could be that might be looking for her out there... she needed to change the subject and quickly before he pressed her more.

"That's a...interesting name... how did you get it?" Vixi questioned her eyes wandered over to Steel.

[Steel]

She’s trying to change the subject. She must have her reasons but doesn’t she know that one can find out another’s name just by looking at their status screen? Steel thought to himself. At the same time, he was going to drop the subject as he didn’t want to cause any further discomfort for the girl. He would tell her about the status screens in a bit though after he answered her question about his name. “To be honest, this name isn’t my own. It belongs to a friend of mine. I wasn’t born here in London or Europe like the majority of the players here. I was born in Japan, the country this game originated from. I’m Japanese.” He said to the girl. “I was always alone in school, I didn’t really have any friends. I even got bullied sometimes. The reason for that is because I have Asperger Syndrome which is a light case of autism. It doesn’t affect me enough to prevent me from going to a normal school or from doing any of the school work but it affected my social ability. One day, I got into an accident that landed me in the hospital and that’s where I met a boy three years older than me named Kyousuke. He was the original Steel. He was my first real friend and he introduced me to Elder Tale. At first, I played as an Assassin named Tetsu and Kyousuke played the Swashbuckler Steel. We beat a ton of bosses together. Unfortunately, a little under 2 years ago, Kyousuke died from a terminal illness he had. Half a year after that, I had to move to London due to my father’s job and since I was in a new area, I decided to make a character using Kyousuke’s old character name. I guess I just wanted something to remember him by.” Although he was feeling a bit sad remembering Kyousuke's death, Steel was willing to practically tell her his backstory in hopes that by being open with her, she would be more willing to be open with him. It was then he decided to let her know about the status screen. “By the way, not that I looked or anything but you do realize that anyone can see your name if they focus and look at your status screen right?” He asked her in a somewhat nonchalant tone.

vixi

[vixi]

"Japan huh...he's quite a ways from home...but I guess we all are now...." Vixi thought as her eyes scanned the view around them, the foreign world in which they had all been cast into, everything looked so familiar and yet so different... it was hard for her to explain what it was about this place but it seemed like she was home but everything was off, as if the furniture in her house had been moved just by an inch, not enough to make her feel discomfort but just enough that it felt off.

Seeing as Steel was going to be talking for a little while Vixi thought it was best that she would find herself a more comfortable spot that crouching over the deer, her feet where not tired but if there was going to be a long conversation she might as well it enjoy it some.  Inching back from the side of the deer Vixi brushed her skirt out in front of her making sure that it would not prevent her movements as she placed her hand on the ground for better support, settling herself down on the ground next too the two of them, her long silky legs bent under her body, crushing the grasses below her. Vixi often like to cross her legs as she sat when she was alone, or stretch them out before her but as she was wearing a skirt she didn't think it was the best idea at the time. Listening as Steel talked Vixi kept her hands busy as she smoothed out the wrinkles in her skirt trying her best to make sure her outfit was going to look its best, but given it dirt and rips that it was covered in the task was mostly for show than anything else.

"That's quite...a tale you have, Steel." Vixi muttered her eyes fixed on her skirt, working away the small wrinkles and bits of dirt.

Vixi often forgot...or tired to forget the world that all of them came from, the pasts that people led before coming here was a world away, and yet... the past still clung too those here, making them who they were here today. As for Steel he seemed to have a hard life, a mental disease and the loss of a good friend where not things someone got over easily but for all that he went through he seemed to be dealing with his problems, much better than that of herself. He was a stronger person that than of Vixi, though he did find it a bit odd that with his syndrome that he didn't seem to act in such a way, but others where better at coping with things that some.

"Yes...I guess everyone has their own issues to deal with...." She muttered her hands now placed back on the deer, her fingers rubbing the creature long hardened antlers.

"You don't seem... off to me.... if you hadn't told me I wouldn't even have known."

Her words where true, Steel seemed just like any other person she might come across, in this world or the one before, perfectly normal compared to social standards at least. Bring up her name in the status bar Vixi nodded her head slowly at his words, she knew all too well of it but the display name was not the same she had before, how many times had it been changed since she started this game? Two? Five? She had lost count in the days that came before, Vixi had her own reasons for why she did this but she wasn't willing to say why.

"I know... this is not my first name in this world...if you knew my name already, then there was really no point of asking." Vixi pointed that out just like he had too her.

"Anyway... I'm sorry to hear about you're friend. A loss, is never easy." The sadness filled her voice as flashes of her past flooded her eyes, leaving them with a glass cold stare.

[Steel]

“A lot of people think that.” Steel said in response to the girl saying that he didn’t look like he had a mental problem. “As I said earlier, it doesn’t affect me that much. At most, it just makes it harder for me to talk with others. Ever since I’ve come into this world, I’ve learned to suppress it to some extent.” He then listened to how the girl did indeed know about the status window and has actually changed her name multiple times from how she said it. She then said to him words of condolence in what seemed to be an attempt to comfort him. She sounded sad, as if something just as painful happened to her. “Why did you need to change your name? Did something happen in the past?” He asked the girl, being able to see the pain on her face. “Well, I won’t try to pry if you don’t want me to know about it but let me give you some advice. If the world is full of things we don’t want to remember or look at, is our only option to look away? You won't solve anything by looking away. If something bad happens, we can’t change it. What will happen, happens. That’s how the world is whichever world we live in. The most important thing is to not let the tragedy defeat you, to believe that you can get through it. If you can do that, you’ll be able to keep moving forward, even if it’s only one small step at a time.” He then began to think about what else to say for a little bit for continuing. “I guess the other thing I would have to say is that you don’t need to shoulder your burdens alone. At the very least, you’ll have me to help you. Don’t be a stranger and ask for help if you need it. If you need a shoulder to cry on, I’ll be there.”

vixi

[vixi]

"Why did I change my name... I thought no one would ever ask...then again no one ever asks anything about me... should I tell him?...." Vixi's mind pondered as her rest rested on the fur of the deer, its body wrath making her finger sink in deeper than before with her deep in thought, not just about what she was thinking but also what it was that Steel was saying.

 "Nothing...is ever that black and white... while-while I appreciate what you said... I don't... I don't know you well enough to spare my pain, or tell you." She stammered through her words as the painful memories began to come back into her mind, it was an ever constant battle to repress her thoughts of times before, taking about it wasn't helping her much to being with.

The thought of sharing, of telling what she had to say, what she felt, what she had gone through was a pleasing idea, one of which wanted to brust forth from her mouth, telling the world of herself... but she couldn't, not too him. Steel seemed like a generally kind person, his willingness to listen to her was by far most the kindest thing he had done for her, but trust was something that she did not give out often. Such an rare occurrence could be matched too that of a lunar eclipse, even then it was only but a small shred of what there truly was. No one had ever or as far as she was convenience would ever know her full story, one small slip of who she was...who she is could be the start of this world for her all over again.

"I have my own shoulder to cry on... but... thank you for the kind thought...." She voice came out low, holding a tone of sadness too it, it was clear her mood was dropping quite concernedly since the arrival of the deer. It had done great to reveal a small sliver of her true nature for a short time, but like a tailor working on a torn cloth the opening had been sowed shut. Often it was hard for Vixi to open up even the smallest bit to anyone, she had been hurt too many times in the past, each time adding another lock on her heart and mind, like a tumbler on a safe only those with the right skills could crack her.

"Does he want something from me? Rarely do people show such kindness without asking for something in return." The thought made her hands draw back to her lap where they dug into her skirt in tight little fists, showing as her knuckles went white. Steel appeared to actually want to know what she had gone through but there was too much unknown about him, it had been a good start telling her a little about himself and his past but it took more than a few kind words and stories to see what lay inside her heart.

[Steel]

“Fair enough, everyone has their own thing that they don’t want to talk about. I’m no exception.” Steel said as he began to relax on the ground. “You must have had a really bad past huh? I can tell just by looking at that pained expression on your face. It makes me wonder caused you to close up like that, like an ever increasingly complex sewn cloth. Well, as I said earlier, since you’d be uncomfortable with sharing, I won’t try to pry.” He then saw the girl clench her fists to the point of them becoming white, showing some sort of uncomfortableness or she was thinking really hard. It was even possible for it to be both. After thinking for a short amount of time, he began to speak again. “Although I promised not to pry, allow me to take a general guess as to what happened. Based on how closed off you are, I’m going to guess that you were either abused or betrayed a lot back in the real world. And now, you’re probably thinking something along the lines of everyone only does something for others if there’s something in it for them. I won’t deny that there are people like that out there but at the same time, there are people out there who just want to help others. I’m the latter of the two groups. I don’t expect you to believe me but I just wanted to let you know that.” It was then the sky began to darken. “Hmm, the stars are going to come out soon.” He said as he looked up into the sky. “Wanna go star gazing? From what I saw with the deer, you seem to like nature. The stars are part of nature too.” He said this with a grin, the seriousness he had on his face earlier having rescinded.

vixi

[vixi]

At the note of Vixi's facing showing off her emotions she jumped slightly off the ground only to recover with her head tilt towards the ground, she often fought so hard to keep her emotions in check but when the past became to real it was hard for cracks not to appear in her armor. A few tears clung to the corner of her eyes but she did her best to keep them there, right on the edge of her eyes, with her head bent over as it was it was possible too see her face with her long hair covering her face from the world. As Steel continued to talk it helped to sooth Vixi's mood but she continued to stay hunched over, she didn't wish Steel too she her as such, whenever she cried people tried to comfort her... which always lead to touching, why always with the touching? As if a simple hand on her shoulder was ever going to solve all of her emotional problems.

"He has no idea what I've gone through... I don't think ever will... this...is something I will keep with me forever... even with every step I take away from it, its as though I'm stuck walking around in circles. A trickster light from the end of the tunnel, toying me as I'll never reach it." Her thoughts barraged her over and over, and infinite loop of sorrow and helplessness... she couldn't help but wonder if she was doing this too herself, or if she deserved it, all of it.

Shaking her head to rid herself of the dimming thoughts she took a deep breath and quickly whipped the tears from her eyes, trying her best too not let Steel see her current state, but he seemed like a pretty observant person... he probably knew. Sighing heavily she turned to face Steel at his question, he was correct about many things including that she indeed did love nature, the most of all the beautiful night sky, though the idea of being alone in the dark with a new acquaintance... was not something she looked fondly on.

"I...I dunno...." Her eyes turned towards the nearby city, it was so close...but even then she didn't feel completely safe. The idea of seeing the bright stars as they broke through the night sky just as the sun dropped from the sky was very inviting....

"...as...as long as we don't go to far...."

[Steel]

"No problem, I know a spot that isn't too far away from here." Steel said as he got up. After stretching a little, he glanced down at the girl next to him and found that she was still hiding her face. He could tell that she was still upset and depressed and he remembered how he was like that in the past, living within a seemingly inescapable darkness. He then remembered how Kyousuke helped him out of the darkness that this girl was currently in. I want to help her just like how Kyousuke helped me. He thought to himself as he squatted down next to her, deciding not to touch her after remembering how she reacted last time. "You know, you should stop hiding your emotions and locking them away. I don't know what happened to you in the past but you don't move on, you'll just continue to be trapped within it. That doesn't mean to just forget all of it, it means to accept what happened and continue living. Once you've begun to do that, slowly but surely, you'll make your way to the light at the end of the tunnel." He this with a kind smile. After saying that, he stood back up before extending his hand to her. "Remember what I said about extending a hand to someone? It's basically showing that I won't force you but I want to help. Let's go star gazing together!" He said this with a bit of a grin.

vixi

[vixi]

Shifting his weight about Steel was quick to stand leaving Vixi still remaining seated on the ground, her thoughts wondering if she had decided on the best course of action here. Was she foolishly setting herself for more pain once again? The city was right there, if she was quick she could make it out before anything were to come of this... and yet... would she even make it...or was she really trying to move on with her life. All of her actions up too this point had been to presevre what little of her old self that she could, ever time she would build her walls up someone would come along and in time they would pick it apart piece by piece until... everything would come falling down. Even when it seemed that her life was taking a turn for the best something would happen to end it all once again, her trust in others was more than lacking, it was almost none existent. Steel had been right, she had been hurt, more times than she would like to recall, though not all the pain was from this world, things have a way of following a person no matter where they ran, no matter where they hid, the past always caught up.

A silence filled the grass field, the only sounds coming from that of the deer as it made a low grunting sound as it stood up from the soft earth, almost as it seemed to understand that the two of them where leaving it looked them over once more and slowly made its way back to the tree line where a few other lurked in the growing shadows of the night.

"How nice it must be...." Her glassy eyes shined in the setting light of the sun, she wondered if they cared when a member of their pack went missing, even if only for a short while.

Having fixed her focus on the deer Vixi jumped slightly at Steel's words, she knew that they should eventually been coming but she had been lost on the creature as it parted ways with them. There was truth in what Steel spoke but it wasn't anything she had heard or knew of all ready... but these things were not something a person could push on themselves or others. Recovery wasn't something like that of a switch, it could not be turned off and on at will, days, months, even years could be needed. She had tried and failed so many times at this she was wondering if many she should just give in and give up. A deep sadness filled her chest as a sinking feeling filled her heart, she knew that Steel's words were meant to be helpful, aid her in her recovery but they only made her remember all the attempts she had made to move on, to fight, strive through the hard times... but she was still here, that the first square, never making any progress with the demons that lived inside her.

Extending his arm out too help her on her feet Vixi stared wide eyed for a few moments, judging what she should do at this point in time. She had agreed to his stargazing, but her thoughts told her of a warm spot in the city where she could flee off too and never have to worry about this encounter again... but she needed to move on right? To keep fighting... but it didn't mean she had to take a huge leap and dive straight in did she? Small, slow steps would be a good place to start, maybe she had been to over zealous before?

Nodding her head with a simple no to his gesture Vixi placed her hands on the ground slowly pushing herself on her feet after a few seconds, her distance still a tad farther from him than need be, but she was up and ready too move.

"Sure... I'll follow you." Her voice trailed off as her eyes wandered back to the gates of the city.

"I hope I made the right choice this time...."

[Steel]

Seeing how the girl in front of him didn't want to return his gesture, Steel decided to withdraw his hand as he didn't want to force it but he was somewhat happy that she accepted his offer about going out into the fields. "Well, I guess this is a start." He said to the girl with a bit of a smile in regards to the slight progress he hoped she made. "No need to rush things right? There's a saying from where I come from. 'If you want to climb a mountain, you obviously have to aim for the top but you gotta slow down and enjoy the scenery.' It means you should enjoy the journey while you keep moving forward. Also, you should stop looking so gloomy and smile a little more! If you keep such a sad face on you, nothing's going to change for you." He then pointed towards outside the gate. "Let's go stargazing then!" He said with a bit of excitement. He then turned around and faced the girl who was at least 6 feet away from him. "Whether or not you will trust me, here's my promise to you while we're adventuring together. If you need help, I'll become your support. If you're getting hurt, I'll become your shield. I'll protect you throughout our time together." He this with a certain seriousness in his tone. "You don't trust me because I'm stranger right? To me, you're a stranger as well so why am I trusting you? For all I know, you could attack me from behind or something. The answer to that is I'd rather trust someone and regret it rather than doubt someone and regret it." He then turned back to face forward once more. "Now then, shall we get going?"

vixi

[vixi]

Vixi could feel the aura of disappointment that brewed within Steel with her decline of his out reached hand, thought it was but a flicker into his mind she knew he hoped that she would have done so. It was but for a second but quickly he recovered from her gesture, thought she had agreed to go with him her levels of emotions were just to scattered and abundant that she never wished for another living being to touch her even it was through her clothes, just the idea of another hand on her would send shivers down the length of her body, all the way from the top of her head down to her very toes. As for as Vixi was consider though she was making great bounds here at this moment in time, she had made so many mistakes, often most of them starting out this way... but if she gave up here then everything would be lost, without meaning to life, without the will to continue forward into the future, there was no future. It seemed as though living in the present was just as difficult as living in the past, the only difference was that here, she had the will to move about on her own, until that is, it was taken away from her, like when the sun too light away from the lands... though in that case it was always brought back the next day.

"That's a long saying...." Vixi thought as she repeated it over in her mind, though there was truth in it, she often kept her mind set on the world around her, watching as it spun by. The trees growing, people passing, everything seemed to go by so quickly while she sat, watched and waited... thought for what, who could say.

"Smile....me?...I don't even know when that happens anymore...the deer... and then before that....I can't remember...." Her voice lingered off as her vision traced over Steel as he chimed up, his voice growing louder than normal, he seemed much more excited than she had ever see anyone get about stars. There was much to admire about the world around them but the stars that lingered off in far away space where jewels that glinted in the night sky's, worlds so many years off that she would have died and been forgotten in the times past.

As Steel started to speak again she kept still, watching him eagerly, his words of which sounded like something a Knight would say. A defender of other who he owed nothing too, a person that anyone might call a hero in the days too come, he certainly had the right attributes for it. Contuing to speak Vixi thought the idea of her being any threat humorous in nature, never before anyone seen her as more of threat than that a fly would be too a brick wall.

"...when you talk like that... you sound like a one of those hero's in a video game...." The idea of course was ironic being that this game was once a game in itself.

Taking the lead Vixi followed in the dimming shadow of Steel as he marched forward too where ever he was leading them, a deep sinking feel in her chest told her to head back now... but slowly the feeling was being pulled back fading from this realm... would she be betrayed again...or would she finally find the right path?