(Continuation of this first post.) It was always a gamble, taking a job with a stranger. Sometimes, she was paired up with another NPC, which was a challenge in and of itself. NPCs did not understand that they were in a game, and so mention of health, rewards, or quests really threw them for a loop. Most just grew agitated, or wrote you off as crazy, making cooperation a tad difficult. But even tougher was when she was paired with another player who did not share her mindset. Mags signed into Terrasphere every day with the hopes of making new friends. Her endless evenings spent in her apartment, alone, were beginning to get to her. She hoped to make friends, and the game had seemed like the perfect solution. Unfortunately, many of the people she teamed up with were very focused, and too driven by achievments for her liking. Whereas she enjoyed getting ot know her companion, too many were content to rush through things for the completion alert, and then move on without another word. They were there for the mastery points, while she was there for the relationships. The two often did not jive very well. So the woman sucked on her bottom lip, gazing out over the crowd, unsure of what hand she would be dealt this time. @Hikoru
Hikoru made his way through the crowd as quickly as he could. He had seen an ad for an island getaway of some sort, and he knew that this would be the perfect opportunity to try and get a map of a location that no one else had. Although it seemed pointless to work on a somewhat vacation, his love of making and reading maps seemed like a vacation from his life on the outside world in of itself. He grasped his way to the front, falling on the ground. He grit his teeth as he got up, brushing the dust off of his basic clothing. He bowed to the man who seemed to be in charge. "Hello, I'm the person that got in contact with you about the island..." He said as he stood back straight. It was then he noticed a young woman with a very intimidating spear. He felt a small blush form as he looked down, still feeling a bit awkward towards the other gender. He coughed a bit as he moved closer, on the other side of the man. He looked out at the crowd that had formed. It was a bit weird to almost be the center of attention. "So this is what it feels like..." He muttered, and giving a small chuckle to his own inside joke. He was usually the quiet one in school, that just stayed in the back of the class and did his homework before it was due, and spoke when called on. He was used to that life, being in someone else's shadow. This however, it felt like everyone was below his, and it made him feel... uneasy, to say the least. He closed his eyes and looked the other way. He awaited the words of the man next to him, to see what this would entail in his time on the island.
The young man broke away from the crowd, hurried over, and fell flat on his face. Of course he did. Amusement danced in her amber eyes, but Mags was far too much of a lady to mention his little trip. Or, at least, she was too much of a lady and she did not know him quite well enough for such jabs. Maybe after they spent some time working together? She also longed to ask the man what he meant by his odd muttering - what what feels like? - but she stored the question away for later. Instead, the blue haired woman shifted her spear to her left hand, and her weight from one foot to the other, adopting a more casual, friendly pose. Her right hand was extended toward him greeting. "Pleasure to meet you," she greeted warmly, falling into the familiar mechanics of meeting a new person. As a teacher, Mags literally met hundreds of new people every year - students, parents, co-workers. She had grown accustomed to meeting new people through her work, though truth be told, she had always been the friendly sort. "I'm Magdalyn, but most people call me Mags. It's easier, I think." The man in the suit pursed his lips in obvious displeasure. "If you are quite finished," he said curtly, "we shall be on our way. I will not keep Mister Plaxton waiting." Even before the other player could introduce himself? What did this fancy secret service wannabe have up his butt anyway?
Hikoru looked in awe at the crowd, some with a jealous look on their faces as he got to go, even though he had just started and joined the game. He ignored those people and took note of any landmarks in the area that he could use to his advantage. He gave a sigh and jumped a bit as the women next to him suddenly spoke. He looked over to see she held her hand out in greeting, and introduced herself. He mentally hit himself for being so jumpy and took her hand and shook it. "I'm Hikoru, most people call me Hikoru..." He joked lightly. He heard the man next to him ask for them to get on the ship if they were ready, as the man who had contacted him, Mister Plaxton, waiting for them to arrive. He let out a sigh and nodded, turning around and facing the boat. Being the gentlemen he was, he motioned for the lady named Mags to get on first. He waited for her to get on before he got on himself, feeling his legs a bit mote wobbly as the ship went against the waves below him. He was a bit shocked and bounced a bit, testing it. "Well dang, even the water and boat mechanics are good..." He shook his head. "Why is this game.... Interesting." He said with a small chuckle, then he found a seat so he could look out to the ocean and enjoy the smell of the sea and the crisp air that came with it. He looked at the young lady, and he then sighed. "So, why did you decide to come along this trip?" He asked curiously. He didn't know anything about her, and yet they were going to be tuck together for quite some time, working together on some sort of project. He might as well attempt to get to know her before anything bad happens.
With a puff of air, Mags dropped into the chair next to Hikoru. Whether the game was realistic enough to reproduce her exhaustion, or it was all in her head, she felt like she had been standing for hours. The woman paused only long enough to prop her spear up against the seat next to her. Then, she reached her arms above her head, working the knots from her muscles. Her long, lanky legs stretched out before her, and crossed at the ankles. Only once she was settled in did she reply to her new companion. He had said something else, but in a tone that suggested he was not talking to her. Murmuring to himself, as he had when they first met? Perhaps that was a trait of his. "Why did I decide to take this job?" she asked, clarifying that she understood his question correctly. Then she gave a small shrug. "I don't know, it interested me. It's really vague, and I think that's sort of neat. We need to help this Mr. Plaxton. who is just oozing mystery, on his private island. What are we going to be doing? Gardening? Building a castle? Ridding his property of rats?" A grin blossomed across her face, which she tilted back to take in the sun. As the boat pulled away from the dock, Mags spent a moment just enjoying the feel of the salty breeze on her flushed cheeks. Then she added, "I like the more unique side of questing. I'll do the 'kill ten boars' type quests too, but they're less exciting. If I just wanted to kill things, I'd play Call of Duty or something. This is a lot more interesting." She turned her head a bit to glance over at him. "What about you?"
