𝓌𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒾𝑜𝓇

PLAYER: kali

LOCATION: floor 52

there were very few things that ever worried kali in this game. that list of things stopped after the vixens and her brother, never expanding much. after the battle she had taken care of her girls and made sure her brother was okay. all her stops had been made, all her worries had been tended to. except they hadn’t. she couldn’t shake the pit of worry that had formed in her stomach and she couldn’t figure out what was causing it, but she knew for a fact that it meant she messed up. after losing him she swore to herself that her plan was to get out, no distractions, no feelings, no people other than herself. kali tried to reason with herself, saying that it was still an adrenaline high from the battle, that it was because they’re finally in a new level, however the truth was that her guard had been let down, and there were other people who now meant something to her. the royal fuck up. 

she stood in the doorway of the grand building, light gleaming off clean surfaces. the flip from the last floor had been enough to give her whiplash, the desire to feel clean taking full force. she wandered around long enough to find a bathroom, washing her face in one of the sinks. she stood up to dry her face, pressing a dry towel to it. dropping the towel back onto the counter top a gasp fell from her mouth at the figure in the doorway. “don’t you know by now that sneaking up on someone is rude?”

          the blonde warrior had managed to sneak out from the hospital, despite not being given the go-ahead by the npc staff that she was allowed to leave. nobody could tell her what to fucking do, not even achilles. which is how the blonde found herself in search of a place where she could clean up on her own terms. adora felt... less than kempt, to put it mildly. the hospital staff cleaned her up half-heartedly. dressed her wounds, stitched her up, gave her the damn arm sling, but she still felt grimy. after hearing about a nearby hotel, that’s where she decided to set off towards. maybe she could threaten the staff to allow her usage of their facilities free of charge. though it was doubtful adora looked very intimidating in her current state. no mystics/mages were available to heal her nor did anyone seem to have any potions handy to give the second, so the blonde was stuck with her injuries for a while longer.

@defenderadora

The boss battle had been going worse than pretty much any other boss battle he had ever seen. Blood Oath members were dropping like flies and it made staying focused on the task at hand much more difficult than it should’ve been. He watched friends get slaughtered by the humanoid creature, yet, he was so caught up in the battle, he couldn’t find it in himself to care. Sophie was waiting for him behind that boss. He had to kill it to see her again. – But all that shifted when the martial artist watched as Adora was prepared to take what seemed to be a death blow. The man figured this would be her final moments, and he’d get to watch them… Until Jupiter came from out of nowhere and… Took it for her? It came as a surprise, his guild leader just… died for another guild. Rubbing his eyes, he looked again and… No, he wasn’t seeing things. It was then that he heard the two mutter something to each other that made Sparkles realize that he really shouldn’t be hearing this conversation, doing his best to turn his attention back to the battle.

Walking around the newly opened city, Sparkles found himself mildly amused at all of this. It made him miss his fallen brethren more-so, but he didn’t have time to focus on that. This city was just the set up for the next floor, the next boss, and Victor was already on it’s pursuit, looking in every nook and cranny for any kind of hint before seeing a familiar face in the distance. “Adora?” He called out, jogging over and waving her down. “Hey um… How are you holding up? – After… All that?”

          at hearing someone call out her name, the blonde had half a mind to try and duck behind some cars to try and escape. was it impossible for adora to get a single moments peace? ever since the battle finished, there wasn’t a second where adora had actually be able to enjoy being alone. alone to grieve jupiter, alone to properly cry over what happened to radish, alone to finally allow all of her built up emotions to bubble over without worry of someone else’s judgement. apparently grieving and dealing with emotions would have to wait a few more days. straightening up, adora winced slightly when her shoulder pulled as she turned to face whomever was calling out to her person.

loading players; @defenderadora & juno location; level 52, infirmary.

she had heard that adora was in the infirmary and she didn’t hesitate to make her way there to see her friend. though she knew there was a twenty-four hour healing period, so she should be fine, just like everyone else. it wasn’t real life where it might take years to heal, iris wasn’t that stupid into thinking that this would be something to worry about right? she checked the rooms even asked at the nurses station which room she was in, before heading down there. she knocked gently on the door, eyes looking the blonde over. definitely not something you could get used to though. she was just imagining link in that bed all bruised and battered. “you look like shit.” she murmurs to adora, before she was sitting down in one of the seats beside the bed, honey hue still looking her over. “jesus, dor. get a little too close, much?”

cricket: adora. i don't have time to play this game.

cricket: it's important. you know i wouldn't ask if it weren't.

cricket: so meet me on floor 49 in an hour

cricket: or don't. it's your decision.

cricket: either way I tried. so, please, at least think about it.

adora: if you waste my time, i'm going to be livid

adora: don't make me regret this

          “shh, shh, i’m here, i’m here, baby,” the man consoles the weeping blonde, running a hand up and down her hair, squeezing her shoulders, rubbing her back – anything to comfort her and help her sobs ease up. his gaze shifts from concerned to serious as he grips her shoulders and guides her into sitting up again, so he can look her directly in the eyes. “harlow, mírame. it’s not your fault. i want you to say it back to me: it’s not my fault. right now. please.” he searches her eyes, desperate for her to do as he asks. “until you begin to believe it yourself.” 

          “harlow, no one expects you to protect everyone all the time. that’s a lot of responsibility on one person, even catalyst’s second in command.” if he tried hard enough, maybe he could be the woman’s voice of reason. diego cups adora’s face in his hands, running a thumb along her cheek. “it’s not your fault, querida.” he presses a soft kiss to her forehead, blinking rapidly so as to not let the tears that were forming fall.

          soft shoulders shook as the blonde continued her sorrowful cries, her good arm still gripping his shirt tightly while the other hung limply at her side. adora couldn’t be sure, but she thought her heard her own voice muttering over and over how it was her fault and that it should have been her instead of them. a pitiful cry punched out from trembling lips as an intense burning pain shot through the entirety of the warrior’s injured arm due to his tight grip. ❝ di, my arm- ❞ fresh tears slipped down pinked cheeks, only this time from her own physical pain. ❝ you’re hurting me-- ❞ normally a dislocated shoulder wouldn't be a big deal for the blonde, even without a healing potion. however, adora was feeling too much all at once. too much grief, too much pain, too much everything. it was horrible. the second wasn’t even sure if she felt this much self-loathing when she had lost achilleus. 

cricket: what?

cricket: no, it's something else.

cricket: i have to tell you something and if you want me to leave you alone after, i will.

cricket: i just, i think it's important.

cricket: Adora. This may be bad timing, but I need to talk to you.

adora: bad timing is putting it lightly

adora: if you're trying to ask about achilleus again... don't bother

status: open location: level 52

One of the first things to catch Occāsus’ eye on level 52 were the vehicles that lined the bustling city streets. The neon lights of the city reflected off the chrome, and the futuristic style held her attention even after she left the streets. As soon as she heard one of her friends had bought one of the cars, Occāsus struck a deal with them. She had some materials that were viewed as precious to some, but entirely useless to her, that she was willing to trade for the opportunity to drive around and explore the city for a while. It was a win-win for her.

It wasn’t nearly as fun if she was exploring the new level on her own, though, was it? “Hey, the passenger’s seat is all yours, if you want!”, she had called to another player, as she ducked into the car and looked at them expectantly through the passenger’s side window. “Hop in.”

          catalyst was in shambles, too many people that cared about adora felt she needed to be watched, and the blonde hadn’t a moment to herself since arriving at the hospital. after being healed by a catalyst mystic, adora began to grow restless, eager to get out of the damn dreariness of the hospital. despite her crippling grief that still struck her punishingly at random, adora had no plans of doing anything rash or dangerous. anyone who felt she needed to be babysat could fuck off for all she cared. that’s how she found herself wandering the less crowded streets of floor fifty-two, cloudy blues taking in the cityscape surrounding her from each side. 

PUTTING everyone in a hospital felt far too real, so clinical and against normal game protocol. seeing adora, her strong and brave and powerful adora, wrapped up in a sling was causing some serious mental fracturing. the two images didn’t belong together. nothing about floor fifty-two belonged in velia. she was too torn up to even appreciate the splendor of the level, something that before the battle would have had her awestruck. 

she couldn’t even find the words to ask about the others. she was hardly able to nod along to adora, listen without hearing everything buzzing about the hospital. nike knew something was terribly off, knew that adora had a storm brewing inside her, but didn’t dare mention it as she let the second wrap an arm around her, guide her to their next destination. the comfort immediately threatened to bring her to her knees and she felt the weight of all the decisions she had been making lessen. adora was here now. she would take care of everything. 

“take me there,” she whispered, tears still bubbling in her eyes, having to sniffle to hold her composure. she didn’t know how she was going to tell adora what happened. word on zeus was on her, if he hadn’t been able to speak for himself. could she say it ALL out loud? “i need to get away from this noise.” 

          the second was no stranger to nike’s tears, but that didn’t mean it was any easier to see them. if anything, it grew more difficult as time passed. this time was different though. nike wasn’t crying because she was terrified or suffering from a panic attack, no, there was deep regret swimming in watery hues. the young brunette must have witnessed something equally horrific to what adora had seen on the battlefield. that ( seemingly true ) fact alone was enough to have the blonde’s chest clenching painfully. none of them deserved to see the terrible events this game threw at them weekly, especially not nike. enveloping the young warrior closer to her uninjured side, adora briskly lead them down the pure white hall towards the ‘grieving’ room. ❝ it’s right here, peaches. ❞ adora whispered soothingly, fingertips lightly gliding along the other’s shoulder. without use of her right arm, the blonde was forced to unwrap herself from nike’s hold to get the door open. ❝ come on then, let’s go sit. ❞ adora gently ushered the brunette into the room before shutting the door behind them, blocking out the noise from the outside completely. 

@defenderadora gets what she asked for

One of the only good things about this stupid game was that Luna never had to go to a hospital. If she had her arm nearly torn off in battle? She’d take a few potions off Radish and Padme, rest for a few days, then get up and do it all over again. There was no fluorescent lighting, no condescending doctors or permeating scent of death to be seen during her healing process. But the game master decided to fuck that up too. Maybe it was because he knew how fucked up the only survivors would be after this battle, but she couldn’t find it in herself to be grateful for anything that man did. 

The only bright side to this mess was that the NPCs weren’t as smart as real nurses, so it was easy to look over a few shoulders and find all the rooms she needed to. Right now, Adora was her top priority. Something in her refused to settle ever since she got her first DM from the second in command. The thought that she was out there, needing help, and unable to get it from the people that were supposed to be there to give it to her. It ate her up knowing a Blood Oath member had to be the one to save her. Another Blood Oath member. How many debts did they owe that guild now? Was it even possible to repay them?

The doors passed in a blur, numbers descending until she finally found the right one, until she found Adora. The blonde player was in the same position she’d seen so many times today, helpless, in a hospital bed that looked (and she’d found was) uncomfortable, held together with bits of magic in the form of code. It had all started as a joke, a way to say they’d see each other on the other end of a battle, but it didn’t feel like a joke anymore. So instead of saying “hi,” instead of a hug, Luna went for it. No hesitation, she walked to the side of Adora’s bed where there were less cables, the side that didn’t have her arm in a sling, and gave Adora what she asked for. The angle was awkward as she bent over the bed, her hand slipping behind Adora’s neck, but she leaned in and pressed her lips to the blonde’s. A real kiss, asked for and delivered.

          being stuck in a hospital bed for the next few hours seemed a little bit too much like torture in the blonde’s opinion. leave it to the game master to thoroughly fuck with the surviving players and not give them immediate access to potions that would have healed their injuries quickly, only leaving behind a dull ache afterwards. sighing, her mind was once again drifting back to the events from the battlefield. ❝ stupid fucking idiot, ❞ the blonde spat out, fist clenching and slamming down onto the bed, angered tears collecting in the corner of sorrowful blue eyes. adora was well aware of jupiter’s need to protect people he cared about, had even admitted that he’d happily put himself in the line of fire over and over if it meant her safety. “ just like the first day we met, remember? ” he had said, cheeky as ever with that damn smirk on his normally stoic features. their first overly dramatic meeting had been a topic of jester between the two of them, with how he had taken a spear to the torso, resulting in them having to spend a whole night inside the caves ( as strangers ) of floor thirty-three while he recovered, head of dark curls resting comfortably atop her thighs. adora had laughed then, knowing he’d never have to save her again, she wouldn’t allow it. they were getting out of the damn game together to see her brother again. ha. what a fucking joke. 

          if adora knew anything, it was to never get close to another soul again. everyone she loved died, like she was fucking cursed or something. first achilleus, then jupiter, and almost radish. who would be next? luna? radish, again? no. never again. no one would die for her carelessness again. bringing up her good hand, the blonde wiped away the tears threatening to slip down her cheeks. luna should be showing up soon and the last thing she needed to see was adora breaking down. adora was supposed to be the strong one. it was what was expected of her in catalyst, the role she willingly took on when the warrior became second in command. the moment she allowed herself to openly show weakness in front of her guild mates was the moment they would question her co-leadership skills. if they weren’t already. assuming radish told everyone what had happened, then they’d already be well aware of her foolishness that almost got the young male killed.

          the blonde had plucked up a magazine that was sat near the bed, brows scrunching at noticing it was a celebrity gossip magazine from the mid 2010′s about the kardashian’s. of course something so idiotic would be coded into the game. shaking her head, adora tossed the magazine back onto the ugly side table, completely uninterested in reading about shit that happened almost twenty years before. at the sound of the large white door clicking open, adora found herself stiffening slightly, a wave of anxiousness rolling over her small frame. adora knew that luna had her back, would hopefully always, but the thought of the other being disappointed by the second was something that terrified the blonde. ❝ hi... ❞ she mustered out, wetting her lips slightly with a swipe of her tongue as she gazed upon the other female, who had an almost unreadable expression etched on her gorgeous features. the next thing she knew, a pair of delicately soft lips were pressing against her own. adora reached out and gripped at luna’s hip as she softly returned the kiss with a content sigh. 

@defenderadora ~ the best hospital room ever

five hours, they said. five hours until he could get up on his own two feet and walk out of here. which, honestly, thank fuckin’ god, because he was really starting to lose his mind. he wasn’t the kind of person who could sit still for long, so this level of immobilization was sending him into a mental tailspin. at least the rods were out of his legs. now he was just casted, and that meant he was doing the one thing he could do to keep his mind steady.

he was doodling. doodling on his leg cast, poorly, because he was left handed and his left hand was also still casted. nonsense, really. what happened to ‘suck this potion down and you’ll be fine’? boy did he miss that. when the door opened, he didn’t look up. he assumed it was the same strong-willed nurse they’d stuck him with after he’d made the first three cry. “hey man, look, i drew your face. with devil horns. because you’re satan—oh.” oh, it wasn’t the nurse. it was adora. 

he’d found out she was at the hospital through the guild. he figured she wouldn’t be okay. mostly because he knew she’d injured herself, and because…well, you know. the whole jupiter thing. he wasn’t really sure what to say to her about that. he wasn’t great at comforting people. nonetheless, he was happy to see her. “hey…” was that a sling? damn, she really did get a bit fucked. he licked his lips. “are you okay?”

          adora was standing outside of radish’s room, pacing anxiously as she mentally psyched herself up for seeing the male. last the blonde had seen him, tears were streaming down their cheeks and he was pleading with her not to leave him alone under that damn pile of debris. next thing she knew, the warrior teleported where she landed in the middle of the bustling city where dozens of npc’s were shoving her battered body out of their path. once reaching the hospital, adora had immediately been worked on, resulting in the hideously colored sling over her right shoulder and the tight stitches in her leg and side. although the blonde had free reign throughout the hospital, giving her ample opportunity to visit radish any time she pleased, she refused. the others ( uninjured or as badly as herself ) had informed her of his condition and she just couldn’t bring herself to see him unconscious, with horrific injuries that were caused by her own negligence.

          sucking in a deep breath, the warrior pushed open the door and slowly stepped in, bright blues zeroing in on the large casts stuck around his legs. part of her was glad he didn’t look up right away, while another part screamed at him to. look at her, with cold eyes. blame her for screwing up and forcing radish to put himself in harms way. that’s not what happened though. the first words uttered from him were so very radish that adora couldn’t have stopped the single, startled laugh from escaping even if she tried. clearing her throat softly, the blonde allowed a small, closed-lipped smile to appear. ❝ hi, ❞ she greeted softly in return.