[chapter_5]
It's not the first time a player has proposed an in-game marriage to her to formalize an alliance, but Bella is still struck dumb. Master Culler and Relentless are leagues away from each other, after all - because while Relentless is a good player, easily within the top twenty on the server, Master Culler is something else altogether. Untouchable. Unbeaten. Unrivaled.
And he's proposing an alliance to her.
Bella isn't particularly humble. She has always had a healthy sense of her worth and knows that she is a skilled player herself. She knows that she was a better player than Relentless, knows that their alliance was somewhat unbalanced, but she also knows that they had made a well-matched team. Now, this is a master player wanting to ally with her, and she finds herself facing the opposite position. In this partnership, if she were to accept, Swansong would be the one who needed to keep up.
Not that this bothers her - honestly, it doesn't. In fact, part of her really wants to see how she measures up to Master Culler's skill. This might be her chance.
Still, the question still burns. Master Culler is infamous on the server. He games with three other players, not quite an established guild, and has never had any formalized alliances. He's hardly ever seen, let alone approached for that sort of thing. To be on the receiving end of this proposal from him is mind-boggling.
She has to ask - has to, a need as urgent as her next breath.
》Swansong: why me?
《 Master Culler: there's a multi-server tournament coming up
《 Master Culler: you're the ideal partner
She's ideal? Bella's brows arch high. Why? Why Swansong of all the players on the server? She's only ranked fourth - the third and second players on the duel ranking don't have alliances either, and there is no set rule in the game that says male characters can't form a union. If Master Culler wanted a high-ranked player for a partner, he certainly has at least two other players to choose from.
Yet he picked her.
Bella's thoughts mull over each other. Master Culler is the type of player that utilizes strategy for everything in the game - he doesn't do anything without a reason, probably without at least three reasons. Calculative. Cerebral. Bella puzzles over this and comes to the conclusion that he must know details about the tournament that have convinced him Swansong is the best way to victory. She admittedly does not know much about the tournament, other than the fact that only players with in-game alliances can participate - since she hadn't intended on entering, she hadn't bothered to keep up with any news being released on the forum.
That must be it, she thinks triumphantly, glad to have a reason for this surprising turn of events.
《 Master Culler: will you be my in-game spouse?
There is only a split second of hesitation when the question is asked a second time. She understands the reason. She even knows that she can benefit from this alliance a lot. The part of her that thrills at playing the game is tantalized by the promise of new adventures, of new doors that being Master Culler's partner can open up for her.
》Swansong: yes
》Swansong: I'll meet you at Phoenix Ridge
《 Master Culler: wait
《 Master Culler: not today
Bella frowns at the private chat box. "What?" She furrows her brows as another message appears, a flood of incredulity rushing through her body. She struggles not to gape at the words sitting on the screen, even as she taps out a new response.
《 Master Culler: I have another day in mind
》Swansong: when?
She supposes it makes sense for master players to have their quirks - nobody can be so skilled without being peculiar one way or another. Gaming is something that can suck away hours of the day, and serious gamers have a certain amount of dedication that speaks to something in their personalities. Master Culler, she already knows, is a deliberate sort. He has a reason for picking Swansong; he probably has a reason for picking a specific day.
《 Master Culler: Phoenix Ridge, Saturday, 8pm
》Swansong: Saturday?
》Swansong: that's almost a week away
《 Master Culler: I need to prepare
》Swansong: fair enough
》Swansong: I'll see you then
Master Culler doesn't say anything else. Instead, the tall, white-robed figure on the screen fades into mist, and then the private chat pops up with a message from the system.
Master Culler Has Logged Off
Bella stares at the notification, somewhat stupefied. The lateness of the day drags at her body, makes her eyes feel dry and gritty. Swansong's next quest will just have to wait until tomorrow. Bella logs out of the game with relief, leaning back in her chair with a huge explosion of air. The night had been so stressful and for so many different reasons. She fights back a yawn and stands, scooping up her phone on her way to her room.
Leah is still sat cross-legged on her bed, bulky headphones shoved firmly atop her head as she furiously edits her assignment. Knowing her sister, Leah will probably be up more than half the night. Bella can't relate - she plans to sleep for at least 10 hours and is certain she can, even with Leah's harried quiet muttering on the other side of their bedroom.
Her last conscious thought before she falls asleep is, What just happened?
Seth Clearwater ʘchangethisquil
#todayiwish that ʘthelittlecygnet could help me pass this level bc I'm in hell
Bella Swan ʘthelittlecygnet
Wow I feel cherished #annoyinglittlebrothers
Seth Clearwater ʘchangethisquil
Don't shade me just help me
Bella Swan ʘthelittlecygnet
ʘchangethisquil you know my channel, I'll run a special tutorial for you
Seth Clearwater ʘchangethisquil
ʘthelittlecygnet is the best sister in the world
L Clearwater ʘClearlyFlimingThis
This is blatant favoritism
Seth Clearwater ʘchangethisquil
ʘClearlyFlimingThis what have you ever done for me?
L Clearwater ʘClearlyFlimingThis
I let you live #dontmakemeregretit
"What do you mean you're getting married?"
Bella cringes as Rose's voice, just a touch too loud, echoes through the bathroom. Their bathroom suite has always let sound travel like a deep cavern, something that hasn't changed no matter how many rugs are on the floor or how many towels are hanging from wooden pegs. It's something about the design of the room, the long, narrow shape with a standing shower at one end and a combination sink-drawer-counter at the other. They have a shelf on the longest wall dedicated to their individual bathroom cubbies, each a different color; the back of the door hosts a collection of bathrobes and quick-dry hair turbans; and the space under the sink is a hidden trove of rations for even the worst periods, from Midol to tampons of all sizes. The entire bathroom, from top to bottom, is tiled in white, with the occasional crimson tile acting as an accent - it makes for a lot of empty space with no place for sound waves to be absorbed, with the exception of the faded red shag monstrosity one of them, probably Alice, has dragged into the dorm.
They're all crowded into the narrow room, each of them with a slightly different task. Alice is bent over the sink toward the mirror, carefully plucking her brows; Leah is sitting in a metal folding chair, towel around her neck, filing her nails while Rose stands behind her, hands covered in the disposable latex gloves that came with the violently violet shade of dye she is applying to Leah's hair; and Bella is perched on the edge of the closed toilet lid, knee pulled up to her chest while she paints her toes a soft shade of mint green.
The suddenness of Rose's loud question has inadvertently made Bella paint a wide streak over half her toe. She wipes it away as best she can with the side of her thumb, dips the brush, and tries again.
From the mirror Alice says, "It's like a thing in her game, Rose."
"I know that," Rose snaps. "I just thought she already was."
Leah grins, sly as a fox. "Your tea is so stale. Our Bella has been online-single for two weeks."
The next stroke of the hair dye brush is hard, pressing into the back of Leah's head in reprimand. "Excuse me from having my own life!" Rose mutters with irritation, moving on to the next strand of dark hair.
"You're excused," Leah tells her.
Rose raps the top of Leah's head with the brush. "You-!"
"So," Alice says brightly, turning away from the mirror, her round eyes shining with excitement. "Do you get to wear a dress?"
"Huh?" Bella glances at her with confusion, then looks back down at her toes. She shrugs. "I mean, not really. Players can buy wedding regalia, but it's kind of a waste of money. Might as well buy armor if you want something new - not that I'll be doing that, either."
Alice pouts. "Why not? It sounds like shopping and shopping sounds like fun."
Bella is extremely skeptical of Alice's logic. The only shopping Bella likes to do is online and only from Old Navy, because clothes don't really need to be anything other than functional and she has no interest in spending hours at a mall, ever. Not her idea of a good time. She can sometimes be persuaded to check out the local shops with her roommates, but only because she knows they ask her along as a bonding thing.
"The whole thing is just a formality," Bella says. Her mind briefly touches on Master Culler's proposal and the championship that would be coming up over the summer. Thinking on it, she really admires his strategy; if they partner now, they have several weeks to learn how to work together in battle situations. "Our partnership just needs to be logged on the system."
"Oh…"
Bella bites back a grin, trying not to be too amused by Alice's misplaced disappointment. Trust Alice to be excited by even the idea of shopping for a virtual person.
"Forget about all of that," Rose cuts in. She's about halfway through with Leah's hair, the chemical and artificial-fruit scent of the hair dye wafting strongly through the air. "I want to know what online-single means."
"It means like what it sounds," Leah explains with authority. "She was single online and now she's taken. Online-single to online-married. Bella, you move so quick. What will your father say?"
Bella rolls her eyes. Leah knows as well as Bella does that Charlie Swan doesn't give a damn what his daughters get up to as long as they're being safe and carrying pepper spray.
Rose lifts her head to look at her. "Does this mean you're off the market in real life? Is this one a boyfriend?"
"Yes," Leah answers for her, filing the end of her nail into a blunt square.
"No," Bella corrects. She shakes her head, blows on the wet polish on her toes. "No, of course not. Leah is just making things up."
"So, it's not a thing?" Rose checks, and to her credit, although she doesn't know a thing about gaming and honestly could care less about what Bella does online, she sounds genuinely interested. That's the thing about Rose, though. People like to write her off as this blonde California girl with nothing but empty air between her ears - but she cares about her people and she's smarter than most people Bella has ever met. And she's clever enough to use those assumptions to pay her way through college. Bella has nothing but admiration for her.
Capping the nail polish bottle, Bella shifts, stretching her legs out in front of her and flexing her ankles. "Maybe it is for some people, but they're usually couples in real life, too," she says, then wrinkles her nose. "Which is definitely not the situation here."
Alice makes a sound of comprehension. "Then your dance card is still empty! You can still date!"
Bella is mystified by the statement, because she's never dated in the first place. She doesn't understand why her friends are making such a big deal about this - but then, maybe it's because when she explained it, she had spoken about it, about Master Culler, with some enthusiasm. All three of them have obviously read more into it than she thought.
"Dance card," Leah snickers, a tease a tad too mean as she fiddles with the nail file. "Dance card? Do people even say that anymore?"
Rose clucks her tongue, rapping Leah on the head again with the brush. "Don't be mean," she chides. "Alice grew up in the South and that's how they talk there. She can't help it if she sounds ridiculous."
Alice rears backward with a dramatic gasp, her hand over her heart. "Bella!" she cries, a delicate wrinkle on her brow. "They're bullying me again!"
"I know, I know," Bella says soothingly. She wiggles her toes, liking the flash of the pretty color. There are subtle sparkles in the polish, just enough to catch the light. "They're so mean. Harpies, the both of them."
Leah snorts, raises a brow at Alice. "Why are you tattling to Bella? What's she going to do about it?"
"Cut off your access to those espresso beans," Bella says bluntly, a quirk of a smile hidden in the corner of her mouth.
Leah twists her head around. "No, you wouldn't dare."
Rose actually drops the hair dye brush in shock; it falls onto the campus newsletter spread across the middle of the rug under Leah's chair, the dye splattering on her bare feet and ankles. "You can't do that! Finals are coming up and I need them to study!"
Bella's smile widens peaceably, refusing to let them call her bluff. "You should have been nicer then."
"Alice!" Rose says quickly. She turns to their shortest friend, hands clasped together and held to her chest; Alice turns her face away, refusing to look at Rose. "Dear, sweet Alice! I'm sorry I was mean, I'll never be mean again! Won't you forgive me?"
"You're so weak," Leah hisses, craning her head around Rose's body to pin Bella with a challenging look. "It's not like Bella has any good hiding places."
She's right. The dorm is small and the one hiding place she has is the bottom drawer of her desk, which everyone knows about. But even still, she raises a single brow, meeting Leah's challenge stare-for-stare. "That's what you think, sis."
Even under the warm bronze of her complexion, the blanching of Leah's skin is obvious. She hastens to apologize to Alice, too, and Bella can only count it as a win.
Much better than talking about the supremely absurd idea that Master Culler would actually want to date her in real life - which is about as insane as the idea that Bella would meet an online stranger in real life.
Master Culler or not, there's no way that's happening. Ever.
Piping Hot Tea (Group Chat)
Shortcake
I just learned the best news
It's so great
You guys are going to be so excited
Hello?
Hello hello hello
Paparazzi
Omg what
What is it
Shortcake
Leah! Be patient and wait for the others
Paparazzi
You know you could just, like, tell the chat
And everyone will see it eventually
That's a thing you could do
Shortcake
Its better this way
More fun!
Sleep Talker
Sorry was in class
What's up?
Shortcake
Wheres Rose?
Sleep Talker
Wasn't she in the dorm?
Paparazzi
No she left when I did
Right after you
Shortcake
I'm the only one here
Is she missing?
Should we call the police?
Sleep Talker
I'm sure shes around
Calm down Ali
We can always check
the app if she doesn't turn up
Thorny
Please don't call the police
I'm not missing
I WAS in the library but I had to leave
Sleep Talker
Is it that guy again?
Paparazzi
That guy?
The one who calls her goddess to her actual face?
Thorny
He's a whole dumbass
I don't want to talk about it
What did Ali want to talk about?
Shortcake
Okay now that youre all here!
I have news!
Paparazzi
Spit it out already god
Shortcake
Well since you asked so nicely!
I just heard about a summer internship
with this huge local company!
Thorny
Yay unpaid labor
Paparazzi
Big company taking advantage poor college kids
who so desperately need something on their resume
they wont even complain about not being paid
Capitalism
My favorite thing
Sleep Talker
I'm sensing a bit of sarcasm
Shortcake
Wait wait
Who said it wasn't paid?
They're paying! $200 a wk
Thorny
What really?
Shortcake
That's what it says on the website
Paparazzi
Wow
Sounds fake but okay
Shortcake
Right?
Thorny
Whats the company?
Shortcake
Denali
Theyre like a tech place I think
Sleep Talker
Not just a tech company
They're kind of big
with software and games
Thorny
And theyre looking for interns?
Shortcake
Theyre accepting all applicants for interviews
You don't have to have a computer major
Should I sign us up?
Paparazzi
Sure why the hell not?
Sleep Talker
Yes
Yes you should
Thorny
I'll roll the dice too
Count me in
Shortcake
Great!
Bella's stomach rumbles ominously, a keen hunger she's been feeling on and off since she missed lunch in favor of attending one of her professor's office hours this afternoon. She would have stopped at a kiosk or a vending machine for a snack, but she'd left her wallet back in her dorm - and then she'd had another class, because she made her own class schedule into a good approximation of hell this quarter, so she'd done her best to ignore her hunger. By the time she made it back to the dorm, intent on scarfing a snack to hold her over, her roommates were on their way to the dining hall and had dragged Bella along with them. She'd barely had enough time to drop her backpack!
Fantasies of spicy tacos and buffalo wings, of crisp golden fries and snapping carrot sticks, of cheese and all other manner of her favorite foods cross her mind. Oh, God, what about Sue's fish fry? Or popcorn? No, caramel popcorn - that's much better -
"We should hurry, or Bella's stomach is going to rip itself out of her body to get to the dining hall, just like that scene in Alien," Leah says from beside her. She doesn't even have the decency to hide her smirk or look up from her phone.
Ordinarily, Bella would accuse her sister of being overly dramatic, but she's hungry enough that she can actually see something like that happening. The possibility feels terrifyingly real.
She must look pitiful, because soon enough Alice is rummaging through her giant bag and unearthing a pack of half-smashed peanut butter crackers. "Here, honey," she says as she passes the crackers over. "Don't pass out on us."
"Bless you," Bella says sincerely, before proceeding to gracelessly stuff her face as quickly as possible. Her cheeks puff out at the sides, the remnants of crackers sticking to her lips. All too soon the crinkle of empty plastic fills the air and Bella swallows dryly, trying to work the thick of peanut butter from her throat. Wordlessly, Alice passes a bottle of water, which Bella uses to slake her sudden thirst.
On her other side, Rose watches the scene with a disgusted fascination. "Charming."
"I wish I had my camera," Leah laments. "This would be gold for my channel."
Bella, for one, is glad that Leah's camera is back in the dorm so that this shameless moment will not be forever immortalized - or on the internet for other people to see. There's been enough of that, thanks.
Bella is about to retort, but as they pass by a group of girls gathered around the bulletin board just outside the dining hall, her ears prick at hearing a particular name - and her words die on her tongue.
"I can't believe Masen Cullen is already graduating! It just isn't fair!"
"I'm so jealous of the other senior upperclassmen who got to share classes with him."
"The seniors? Please, I'm jealous of the juniors and sophomores, too. It sucks being frosh - I only saw him in the flesh once."
Bella stops in her tracks, orienting herself just enough to peer past the gaggle of girls. The campus bulletin board is painted a vibrant cardinal red, peeling and cracked from weathering, and just as cluttered as always with announcements, recruiting for campus organizations, and reminders from the administration. At first, she doesn't know what she's looking for, doesn't know what has drawn the attention of these apparent freshmen. But then - yes, there it is, a freshly pinned poster announcing upcoming graduates from the Dean's List. The text printed on the poster is too small for her to read each of the ten or so names printed there, but she doesn't need to be close to know what names she will find. Even if these freshmen hadn't been speaking so loudly, Bella is keenly aware of exactly who is on this list - as well as who is graduating in only a few short weeks.
It had slipped her mind, but she guesses she won't be hearing about him anymore. She won't be seeing a lot of familiar faces at Huang Center, either. So many of her upperclassmen are graduating this year, one of them more notable than the rest. After all, it's not often a student makes the Dean's List four years in a row.
"Bella?"
She startles, turning back to her roommates quick enough her head spins. She finds them looking at her with varying levels of curiosity. Behind her, still clustered around the bulletin board, the freshmen still chatter and grumble about the general unfairness of the world, their voices loud and carrying.
Rose is the first to catch on that Bella has been eavesdropping. She arches one perfect brow, then pins Bella with an expectant stare. "Who are they talking about? Someone you know?"
"A senior in my department," Bella hedges, but while she can school her voice to a certain tone, she can't stop the flicker of a flush creeping up her cheeks.
"Oh," Leah says knowingly.
Alice frowns. "Oh?"
"Yeah," Leah drawls, an unholy glimmer in her eye. "Oh."
Bella looks at her sister warningly. "Leah…"
Leah, because she is Leah, promptly ignores her, looking between Alice and Rose with a taunting twitch of her lips. "Don't let our Bella's casual tone fool you," she tells them. "This senior in her department is her dream man."
"No, he's not," Bella says quickly, forcefully, falsely. It's the kind of denial that kids use, the kind that is a thoughtless dismissal of an obvious truth, and she knows she's caught the second the words tumble from her mouth.
"He isn't?" Rose asks doubtfully, both of her brows raised.
"Well..I-" Bella stops, feeling the heat deepen on her face. "It's not like that! I just admire his skill," she asserts.
"And how pretty he is," Leah adds heartlessly.
"He could look like he took a shovel to the face and I would still admire him," Bella says hotly.
And it's true - it's so true, because while Masen Cullen might be the most attractive person Bella has seen in her entire life, she could honestly care less about his looks. The admirable part about Masen Cullen is his mind and his talent. She's been collecting his independently released software and apps since she was in high school, way before she knew that he went to Stanford too. In fact, learning that the Masen Cullen who engineered her favorite programs is the same Masen Cullen who is at the top of every class in her department had been a genuine shock - she literally hadn't been able to speak for hours. The fact that he has a face like that is like a cherry on top of a cake that already has plenty of cherries.
Bella isn't vain, not about her looks or someone else's. She doesn't even put much stock in physical attractiveness, either - all people are beautiful in their own ways, even if those ways don't particularly matter to her. Bella cares more about the person and Leah knows that. All this teasing about Masen Cullen is just that - teasing. Harmless, but also somewhat irritating given the topic.
She tries not to be too sensitive about it. Bella knows - she knows - she can be touchy about these kinds of things. It's mostly because she doesn't seem to place the same value on physical attraction as her peers, which makes her feel awkward when the topic comes up. She has eyes and she can appreciate objective beauty - but when it comes to the subjective part of it, where her own personal preferences should matter, she doesn't seem to have any predilection. It simply doesn't matter to her, not when personality is so much more important. It's why she gets so vexed by inane beauty contests, because it's so one-dimensional and people are so much more than what they look like.
She knows Leah understands this, in her own way. They aren't the same in this way, but they do share a similar type of queerness. High school had been illuminating, and Bella had been repeatedly grateful that her best friend was also her sister when she spent so many months being confused about it all.
But right now her built-in support system is being an utter pest and Bella is losing her charitable feelings. It's mostly the hunger talking, as it continues to gnaw at her belly.
"Is that so?" Leah checks with a wondering tone.
"Yes, you troll," Bella tells her curtly.
Leah nods to herself, then tilts her head. "So, even if he was like Mike Newton?"
At this, Bella falters. "Uh…"
Alice perks up, recognizing the name with bright eyes. She's heard the stories, just like Rose has, as part of an ill-fated game of Truth or Dare when they were all drunk on wine coolers at the beginning of freshman year. "Mike Newton? As in the Mike Newton who serenated Bella with an actual boombox?"
"Mike Newton, as in the idiot boy who didn't get the hint and followed Bella around so much he almost met the end of the Chief's shotgun?" Rose queries with great humor.
"Mike Newton, as in the guy who told Bella she should ask him to the Ladies Choice Dance?" Leah asks rhetorically. "Yes, that Mike Newton."
Ugh. Dimly, Bella recalls the absolute elation she felt when she got her Stanford acceptance letter, and how happy she had been because it meant that Mike Newton couldn't follow her to California. He really had made the last two years of high school challenging. She wrinkles her nose. "Can we not talk about him?"
"Sure," Leah agrees, blithe. "We have someone else to talk about anyway."
Bella shakes her head quickly. "No, no, no!"
Rose casts her eyes to the sky, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Masen Cullen, huh? Now that you mention it, he's kind of famous on campus, right?"
Leah snorts loudly. "If you mean he's notorious for being unapproachable, then yes, he's super famous on campus."
Alice lights up in recognition again. "Oh, I've heard about him! Girls in my classes are always talking about him. He treats people like air," she says, pushing her hands forward with her palms out in demonstration, then waves her hand in front of her own face as if she can't see anything. "Just walks right by them like this, as if they don't even exist!"
"Leave it to Bella to crush on a human robot."
Bella narrows her eyes at her sister. "I am not."
"Sure," Leah says, and then she starts walking toward the dining hall again.
Bella trots after her, Alice and Rose right on her heels as they enter the crowded building, and says, "And a human robot would be an android, just so you know."
"Whatever, geek."
Bella sticks her tongue out childishly, then peels off from the group, her eyes already zeroed in on one of the food lines. "I'm getting food," she tells them as she walks away.
"Oh, wait! I'll come with you!" Alice chirps, and the tiny click-clack of her kitten heels carry her to Bella's side. Alice loops her arm around Bella's elbow, a happy companion.
"Bring back something with chicken!" Leah demands as she and Rose go in the opposite direction.
"Get your own food!" Bella calls back.
"I can't! I'm doing something very important!"
"Oh, really?" Rose mutters wryly, shaking herself free of Leah's dragging hold.
"I have the solemn duty of holding our table," Leah declares, and then plops herself down at the nearest set of free chairs. Catching all of her roommates staring back at her, Leah lifts her chin haughtily. "You're welcome!"
Bella huffs. When she does return to the table, her tray laden with so much good food, her temper has once again cooled like tepid water. She passes Leah a beef pastrami sandwich, basks in the noticeable twitch in her sister's expression, and smiles with placid good humor.
Rose and Alice watch it all and share a giggle.
L Clearwater ʘClearlyFlimingThis
At least she'll always have his software #tragic
Jakey Wakey ʘjbisnowhere
Is this a new meme?
Bella Swan ʘthelittlecygnet
Please don't get her started ʘjbisnowhere
The public chat on the NorCal server explodes when Master Culler makes his first-ever post on the online forum.
The post is a simple announcement of his intended partnership with Swansong, which is met with a mixture of shock, amazement, and a profound sense of intimidation. The comments range from gushing admiration on Master Culler's gameplay, genuine congratulations on snagging one of the top-ranked duelists for a wife - Bella bristles at that title - and envy that Swansong isn't on the market anymore. And then there is the speculation - so much speculation.
What will this alliance do for their server? Are they intending on participating in the inter-server competition? Does this mean Swansong really is a woman? Is Master Culler playing a long game nobody knows about? How does Relentless feel about Swansong moving up to a better-ranked spouse?
Bella avoids the forum like the plague after a single skim, but the public chat on the game is just as bad. She ends up changing the settings for her private chat to require an acceptance for new private chats, and then closes out the public chat altogether.
She sighs, tapping her lip as she sits at her computer Saturday night, the dorm around her quiet with all her roommates out with their own plans. When she agreed to be Master Culler's in-game spouse, she had no idea it would be like this, which is terribly naïve of her.
And then there's Janeway and her indignation.
《 Janeway: I cant believe you didn't tell me
》Swansong: I didn't think it was that important
《 Janeway: not important?
《 Janeway: NOT important?
《 Janeway: let's set aside that you've pinned down the no. 1 player and the greatest mystery our server has ever seen
《 Janeway: what about the fact that we're friends?
《 Janeway: didn't you think I would care?
Bella feels a stab of guilt. While this is just a partnership to her, she still should have shared the news with Janeway. She shared the details with roommates who don't even game, but not with her only honest friend in the game. She feels awful - she's a bad friend.
》Swansong: I'm sorry!
》Swansong: really I'm so sorry
》Swansong: I wasn't thinking
《 Janeway: its fine
《 Janeway: knowing your personality it wasn't intentional
》Swansong: am I forgiven?
《 Janeway: naturally
《 Janeway: do I get to attend the wedding?
》Swansong: Its not a wedding
《 Janeway: kind of is
》Swansong: but not really
《 Janeway: alright fine
《 Janeway: do you have a dowry?
》Swansong: no, because I'm not a bride
《 Janeway: if you say so lol
Bella huffs. Checking the time, she tells Janeway good-bye and clicks over to the map. Her cursor hovers over the area where Phoenix Ridge is located, nerves nipping at her something fierce. Bella breathes out, steeling herself. She could always message Master Culler and back out - but she doesn't want to, the competitive beast hidden inside eager at the chance to test her mettle against players on other servers. If she doesn't partner with Master Culler, will she ever get a chance like this again?
Probably not.
Bella clicks her mouse, and on the screen Swansong materializes in the center of Phoenix Ridge, the eternal spring just as beautiful as it was the last time she was here. The irony doesn't escape her, of course. This is the second time she has been to Phoenix Ridge in almost as many weeks. She hadn't thought she would be back again for a long time - and yet, here she is, guiding Swansong through the rolling hills and mounds of flowers, heading straight toward Concordant Rock with a boldness that usually escapes her in real life.
There is already a small crowd of players gathered in a loose circle around Concordant Rock, about a dozen or so that - with wide eyes - she recognizes as high-ranked guild leaders, and most of the top-five players from the various ranking lists. Disbelief courses through her - are these players here as witnesses?
Admittedly, she prefers having reputable witnesses rather than the very long, very public procession through the game's high-traffic areas like Relentless and Queen Vee had done. This is better, more private. It's enough to have the announcement on the forum and for the system to announce the union, with a select few allies to act as witnesses. To do anything else is tawdry and over the top. Not exactly her style. Yes, this is the better way.
Still, she wishes she had known Master Culler was inviting other players - she would have brought Janeway along. There's nothing for it, however, because as soon as the thought occurs to her, Master Culler is sending her a message and snatching all of her attention away.
《 Master Culler: after you
》Swansong: alright
Swansong strides right up to the androgynous statue, watching as the face of Concordant Rock turns up into the slightest of smiles. Her eyes shift to Master Culler. He looks the same as always, robed in white with silver armor and weapons. Like her, he hadn't changed his character into different clothing, and she takes that as a comforting confirmation that they are very much on the same wavelength. She considers it a good omen, even as she confronts the fact that her second in-game spouse would be for a competition, and wonders what it says about her. Something good? Something bad?
Bella banishes the hesitation away. Now is not the time for overthinking or cold feet. She's already committed to this.
With that firmly in mind, Swansong reaches out to touch Concordant Rock, Master Culler following a second later. They step back together and the statue shifts, the sound of grinding stone seeping through her headphones. The statue brings its hands together, fingers woven, and turns its smiling face down to them as a gold-lined dialogue box appears on the screen.
Do You Consent to Union?
Swansong selects Yes, and waits for Master Culler to do the same. When he does, the stone statue shifts again, this time stepping back with its arms raised over its head, as if in glorification.
Master Culler and Swansong Have Solidified Their Union, comes the system announcement. May Their Journey Be Glorious With Victory.
Bella smiles at the screen, just a small tilt of the lips. In the virtual world, Swansong turns to Master Culler with a bow, an automated action programmed for any union; Master Culler returns the bow. And then, before Bella can so much entertain another thought, her screen pops up with another notification.
Master Culler Gives OP Arcane Equipment to Swansong
Bella blinks.
》Swansong: what is this?
《 Master Culler: a token of appreciation
A token of appreciation? Bella stares at the equipment waiting to be accepted into her inventory, taking in the rich color of the armor, the boots, the cloak, and the twin daggers that pair with it. It's good equipment, leagues better than what she has, and expensive. The fact that it's OP equipment means that Master Culler crafted this himself, just like his own armor. It's one hell of a token - just by itself, it could probably get Bella on the bottom rungs on the equipment ranking, that's how good it is. She studies the stats on the equipment, assimilating how it can protect her, the properties it can boost for Swansong, and the type of damage it can lay out - and it's way too much. Bella can already see Janeway calling this a dowry!
She wants to decline - and she almost does - but…this is extremely good equipment. This is the kind of equipment that can make or break a really tough duel. Logically, she knows that this is equipment that will help them in the upcoming competition, maybe even be the thing that gives them the edge they need to win.
And she's certain, absolutely certain, that Master Culler is giving this to her for exactly that reason. They're partners now. It makes no sense for one of them to be at a disadvantage that the other can easily fix.
Swansong accepts the equipment and puts it on. The armor itself doesn't deviate from the red armor she usually wears in that it covers every inch of her character from chest to hips, a curve of leather over the tops of her shoulders, and a skirt of leather bands that touch the very tops of the matching tall boots. The color is striking, a lush violet with tones of deep reds and highlights of mauve, the metal holding all of it together as silver as the mithril Master Culler wears. Beneath the armor is a simple sheath of a dark dress that skims right over Swansong's knees, the deep red-black the same as the cloak tossed over one shoulder. The daggers, which sit at either hip, have a slight curve to their silvery blades, nearly scythes.
Looking at Swansong in this new armor, she almost can't believe that Master Culler made this equipment himself, let alone the fact that he made this equipment with her in mind. It's something she would have picked out herself if she could afford equipment of this quality, and to think it's been customized just for Swansong - it really is too much. She's almost speechless for it.
》Swansong: thanks
《 Master Culler: it's my duty
Bella frowns at the screen. His duty? That's an…odd way to put it. But then again - master players and their eccentricities. She supposes she'll have to get used to it.
Thinking quickly, Bella scrolls through her inventory. She doesn't have anything nearly half as valuable or helpful to give Master Culler in return, except for one thing - and even then, its value is mostly in the fact that it's difficult to make.
Swansong Gives Heavenly Restorative Potion to Master Culler
Master Culler accepts her potion much faster than she accepted his equipment, cluing her in to the fact that she had been overthinking it, letting Janeway get into her head. The restorative potion is a creation of her own, a strong enough brew of a certain combination of medicines that can bring a player back from the brink of death - useful for challenging dungeons or boss fights that make players repeat the entire quest if lost. Master Culler is skilled enough he probably won't have any cause to use something like that, but it's the literal least she could do.
《 Master Culler: thank you
A wry smile crosses Bella's face as she taps out her response.
》Swansong: just doing my duty
Bella laughs quietly to herself, then sits back with a relieved sigh. It's done.
A/N: This chapter just...kept getting longer and longer and it wouldn't stop? And lots of stuff happened, tons of relevant details for later chapters! Anyway! Next two chapters are going to be social media interludes, so pay attention to the posted dates!
Handles:
Swansong is Bella Swan
thelittlecygnet is Bella Swan
Sleep Talker is Bella Swan
Relentless is yet to be revealed
Queen Vee is yet to be revealed
Master Culler is yet to be revealed
aliceseesyou is Alice Brandon
Short Cake is Alice Brandon
ClarityIsClear is Leah Clearwater
ClearlyFilmingThis is Leah Clearwater
Paparazzi is Leah Clearwater
byanyothername is Rose Hale
Thorny is Rose Hale
Janeway is yet to be revealed
jbisnowhere is Jacob Black
As always, be brutally honest. I can take it.
~Rae