* logic & reason

the quest board looming before him, endless sheets of paper pinned upon it, depicting various quests that could be explored - and yet, his attention was drawn to one particular one: hidden truths. it's riddle replaying in his mind as he did his best to make sense of it - behind closed doors? which one? there certainly were many closed doors in emberfort, and he wasn't about to try and push each open to see what lurked behind. brows wrinkled deep in thought he mumbled to himself, ' behind closed doors... behind closed doors... ' exasperated, he turned to a person nearby, ' they wouldn't put the door to a quest in the town of beginnings would they? '

*          riddle me this ... how many people does it take to solve a riddle ? the answer : one ─ tatum herself. they’ve got the riddle down by now, yet the knowledge gathered will not be given up easily ─ if at all. after all, the reality is simple. if many find the monster and many defeat it, the loot will have to be split up among everyone. if only people from their guild find it, and their strategy results in a swift victory … the marble dragons emerge triumphant, gaining an edge that will help them move forward. something for the knowledge seekers. something for tatum. *          there is someone beside them, someone who makes tatum turn around and raise their brows questioningly at their silly inquiry. because, to them, that’s what it is ─ silly. their features remain stoic as they speak to the other, no matter the unlikely bond between them. ❛ well, that depends, ❜ tatum starts. ❛ how simple do you expect this quest to be ? ❜

a month had passed. despite her irritation, her anger, genevieve had settled in just fine. the other players rushed around in attempts to complete the game, but she found herself quite content selling potions and tonics and herbs at increasing prices. the first was affordable, the second was overpriced, the third was absurd. but adventurers would soon realize the worth of her products was proportionate to their quality. she'd collected a decent sum of money and wares in the time passed. sometimes, the game could even be considered pretty. peaceful. if you avoided the monsters, that is.

gen lounged by hilmond lake, the water lapping up to her toes and the moon bright overhead. there were still people wandering about, but many had become frantic over the announcement of a new quest. she'd already been visited by several of her regulars in preparation. " and here i thought you'd be solving riddles like everyone else, " she mused, the sound of sand shifting rousing her from her moonlit daze. she sat up to greet tatum - perhaps the only person she found tolerable in this entire scenario.

*          one month in ─ and if anything, they have only grown into a walking paradox of a person. they contain a multitude of emotions that turn over like leaves of various colours floating in the wind, unable to be properly identified. at least not by one who is so very reticent to the acknowledgement of the very existence of emotion within herself. no, tatum would much rather do what she does best — turn away. rationalise. their chosen username is not coincidental. *          hillmond lake offers some solace. it is the silvery moonlight, the idle sound of water, and the company of one of the few people they can stand ─ a welcome rarity, to find someone else with enough intelligence to hold a conversation with. to actually be able to enjoy her company. *          a chuckle, dry and void of humour, as tatum steps closer to their newfound friend ( the word is odd within their mind, such a strange thing to fathom ─ especially in a context such as this ) and forfeits greeting in the form of a response. ❛ all in due time, genevieve. it almost feels rude to jump at the chance too fast ─ the poor common folk ought to have a little head start, don’t you think ? or is that too merciful of me ? ❜