Home Is Where Your Heart Is [Private Elpharae]

[Janeiro]

It got quite crowded in Rue's apartment. Janeiro tried to remember the last time she was at such a gathering and could not really find such a memory in the recent years if she ignored anything having to do with school. It made her happy. Angelo came in and approached her. "Thank you, it's nice that you came." Janeiro reacted with a smile to his flattering words while he changed into casual clothes as well as the last person to do so.
Elpharae seemed to be a peculiar person, but not at all unpleasant. Her politeness was very welcome. Some of the guests gave Rue a housewarming gift, yet it did not seem expected from Janeiro. She hoped to find a better one for Rue in the future than the one she had right now, which she would only pull out in an emergency. Janeiro sat down at the table with the others, everyone being so close to each other while Rue served them, being a very good host. The pale tank did seem to enjoy serving them food and drinks... Janeiro looked at her thinking, until she got tea and delicious steaming crab in front of her, thanking Rue for it.
"This looks delicious..." Seeing that the others dug in informally already the black-haired girl did not wait any longer herself, getting additional encouragement by their host who also told her a little about how she met the tiny brunette called Elpharae. After pressing her hands together in Añjali to show her gratefulness Janeiro took her first bite, her blue eyes sparkling. Quickly she stuffed her mouth with more crab meat and took a sip of her tea.
"Don't worry about not being in the boss fight Rue. First of all, there are still 99 left, if we have to do all of them. And we made it out alive. I'd be glad to have you in the next one though, you would definitely be a valuable asset." She smiled at Rue softly. "Please don't feel bad about it, okay?"

After a while her eyes locked on the plate with crab again. It was a big pile. A very big pile. She could not disappoint Rue and would eat as much of it as possible, although she also wanted to try the other delicious treats served. The tastiness of the meat made it easy for now to eliminate it.

[Angelo]

More Curry Please! 

More Curry Please!..

Rue said something to Relsialle about clothing and Angelo interjected. "I heard that."

Out of all the places to sit, the young hostess decided to sit right next to him. He thought she would be more comfortable with the other females rather than sit next to him. Hell, even Elp would have been a better choice than he was.

"The curry is good. You were right. It's been a long time.." Angelo tried to make a bit of small talk while not stuffing his face. The first thing that popped into his mind was his sister. "Oh hey, listen! Guess what? Yup! You guessed correctly! I found my sister Haruka. She goes by the name of Lucia here in SAO. Or rather.. she found me.. haha."

Others joined on the table, increasing its inhabitants gradually. Angelo would take another bite out of the curry, only to figure out that there was no more on his empty plate. "Oh. Hmm."

Emerald eyes glanced at the pot of curry a few meters away. They gleamed like- you guessed it- emeralds, watering a bit from the excitement his stomach would enjoy. He stood up and scooted over to the pot where he got another giant helpful of the delicious brown food thing along side a two scoops of fluffy white rice. His plate nice and full again, he returned back to his previously empty spot and began devouring the curry. Three plates down, five more to go.

[Elpharae]

Elpharae sipped at his water thoughtfully, observing those around him in curious interest. Relsaille and Rue seemed to be extraordinarily close, and Janeiro and Rue had a similar relationship. Now, Angelo and him were the hangers-on, or so it seemed. Elpharae didn't mind particularly, but wouldn't have minded if Athena was there, a common acquaintance and friend that he and Rue shared. She was one of the closest, if not the closest, friends that he had ever had.

He smoothed down his dress front yet again, and to be honest, he couldn't help himself-it was a force of habit. The brunet stood delicately before taking a small bowl of fruit, impaling a strawberry lightly before letting it drop in between his teeth. The sweet, slightly tart taste hit his mouth, a familiar memory of his sister and him eating strawberries until their fingers were stained pink and their teeth even pinker resurfaced.

He took his gleaming piece of silverware and this time picked out another strawberry, slightly darker in color than the one before. The tops were cut off, he noticed, a detail that he would have to thank Rue for later, if he remembered. Pulling her away from her current conversation seemed rude, and he had no wish to come off as so. The green player bit into the tip slightly, letting the saccharine taste of strawberry juice in this one fruit roll around in his mouth.

Elpharae acknowledged the fact that he was bored out of the corner of his mind. Honestly. When you began to dramatize eating strawberries, you were bored. There was no way around it. The brunet blinked languidly at the three strawberries left in his bowl and then closed his eyes. Right, strawberries. Red or pink berries with seeds on the side. To any other observer, he would have seemed interested in occupied in his thoughts, but not in his strawberries.

That was becoming redundant, so he attempted to describe one strawberry to himself in excruciating detail. Strawberry B has a torrent of seeds along the side, all perfectly formed in a teardrop shape. There is a shining luster among the side where the light hits, coloring the fruit a lovely pale red. The shadows cast are like small, tall mountains, and the topless strawberry exposes a white, pure center where the knife must have cut...

[Rue]

"Never Falter Never Look Back!" ☒ @tagged ✐ 000 ✉ Rue Lv7

Rue's honeyed amber eyes looked to the white haired boy as he, eat plate after plate. She was beginning to feel sickened by the gluttony of the simple boy. However, seeing him enjoy it so much at least made her pride swell up as a wonderful hostess. Rue's attention perked up at Angelo as he made conversation. She was not surprised that the first words that came out of his mouth was about the curry. giving a small smile, " I told you, just as good as it is back home". At least Angelo did not eat while he was talking to her. The boys emerald eyes shined as he asked her a question, well it was not really a question as he answered before she could respond. Giving out a small chuckle as he talked about his sister finding him. " See I told you she was looking for you as well". Giving the boy a light joking push with her right hand, " Why did you not bring her with you, I would've liked to at least meet this elusive sister of your". As she joked with the boy, her sister walked over to her. She looked a little down, but kept her usual puckish tone. " It's good to see you not as the general, but as Rue the person. Also you look to cute in that dress, it makes this even harder to say". Rue's smile went neutral as she stood up looking to her older sister. She was the reason she was much more open and relaxed, she showed her that she should be or do what she wants for herself and others. " What do mean you just got here, you can't leave yet you have not even ate anything yet". Rue looked somewhat saddened by what her friend, sister and fellow companion was saying. The black clad rocky, pulled the smile blue hostess into an embrace. " Sorry but, I just got a message, it's important". Wrapping her arms around her sister as she looked to her with concern. " If it's dangerous, i'll go to.. I wanted to at least talk a little". Relsialle ran her hand, through the light blue sea of her younger sister's hair. " It's fine nothing to worry about, just have to go out.. i'll come back after it's done". The sparkling blue of her eyes looked into her sister's concerned amber eyes. " I know, I promise to come back and talk, but you have a party to host not fussing over me". Patting the young girl's head as she dropped out of the embrace, as she left the rouge parted the tank with a few last words. " Never stop being yourself". Looking around the room and to the party, Angelo and Janerio seemed to be focused on their meals and seemed to be enjoying it immensely. Seeing them look so happy, put a small smile on the young girl's face again. Looking over to Elpharae, he seemed to be nervous. He was straightened his dress more than was necessary and was getting rather acquainted with a strawberry. From what she had known about the small dress wearing, boy he did not seem to be the wallflower type. However he only knew Angelo and he was busy going for a world record at this time. Not wanting her guest and friend to feel uncomfortable, Rue walked over to the small black haired boy and sat next to him. " Found any breakthroughs with your study of strawberries"? Rue would try to cheer the boy up and break the ice, to make him feel more comfortable. Their last meeting together had be poorly received, as she had made a bad first impression on the boy. She was not herself, at the time. All of the things that had happened to her made her into what she was fighting all the whole time. Looking at Elpharae with her soft amber eyes almost matching to softness of Athena's golden coloured eyes. Rue hoped that she could at least make the rest of her guests have a good time. As she tried to make Elpharae feel more welcome, Rue would hide her sadness at her sister's departure.

[Janeiro]

Seeing how much Angelo enjoyed the curry Janeiro felt that she had to try some of it as well. Trying to eat some of it with nothing left on his plate made her smirk. She made sure there were no leftovers on her plate and got it in the white-haired boy's range. "Would you be so kind to give me some curry, too? That is if you don't want to eat all of it yourself. Thanks. I prefer a 50-50 ratio of curry and rice." She looked around the table a little. "I don't claim all of the crab either, Rue has bought way too much just for me anyway..." Now that her eyes were open for the other foods around she picked a few bites from here and there, including a few of the ripe red and quite sweet strawberries.
She had heard about Angelo finding his sister earlier already, so she wasn't too surprised when he announced it and smiled. "Be a good big brother and take care of her, okay?" The conversation between Rel and Rue seemed to be of private nature, so Janeiro did not eavesdrop or interrupt them, but still waved the Irish girl goodbye. She started to feel full, too, slowing down the eating.
"Do you all plan to join the next dungeon raid?" She asked around curiously.

[Angelo]

	I just realized that it was my turn.. I haven't checked this in ages.. Sorry for not replying sooner. Requiescat in Pace Relsialle. Requiescat in Pace Ari.
	Rue Elpharae Janeiro Relsialle |

"Home.." That was a sour subject for a lot of people here in Aincrad. For Angelo personally, home reminded him of his mother's home-cooked meals, the early morning sunrises, his high school lifestyle, and his sister in her room trying out the NerveGear for the very first time. His spoon dropped to his plate as he thought about this, leaving his mouth slightly agape.

Relsialle and Rue were conversing with each other and the boy glanced at their direction. He smiled at the thought of them being together. 'Family. It's..' The teen bit his lower lip as he conjured up thoughts about Lucia. She had an errand to do which was why she wasn't able to come over with him, but his sister mentioned that if she was done in time, she would contact him. He looked back down at his steaming plate. 'Family..'

Janeiro's voice brought him back to reality only to somewhat blush after realizing just how close she was to him. "Oh uhh-"

A small cough to regain his composure. He stood up from his chair and extended a hand over to the curry pot as if to offer something that was his when it wasn't. He took her plate and gave a decently sized portion of rice and brown curry for the black-haired Japanese beauty. Angelo raised a corner of his mouth as he talked to her. "Is this alright with you?"

The portion on her plate was almost half the size that was on his, thinking that she would want to try the other food available. He didn't want Janeiro to get full off of curry after all. He remembered the reason behind the curry. It all started at Horunka on a cloudy morning. He was probably thinking about something rather important but otherwise had nothing else to do when she was just there in front of him. 'We began talking, it started to rain, and we transferred over to an inn. We met Rue over there, surprisingly, and there was more light-hearted conversation. Hmm.. I do remember paying for their meals as they went to sleep though.'

A small grin appeared on his face as emerald eyes glanced back and forth between the conversations that were around the room while his plate was slowly being reduced back to its empty state.

"Yeah.. I'll be there for her. Whenever she needs me.." he replied to the blue-eyed female. The talk about the next dungeon interested Angelo, his ears subconsciously twitching at the sound. From what he heard, they found where the dungeon was, but not the entrance. He was constantly training to become stronger so he could brave the front lines like all the others. "I do wish to join it yes, once the dungeon has been discovered. I'm surprised that no one was able to find it yet."

[[GM] Julie]

Thread closed with spring cleaning. One participants active, One rewards distributed.


[[GM] John]

Thread closed due to spring cleaning. This is a flat reward, no bonuses will be added. I apologize in advance for the cut taken to your hard work of the past, however full credit cannot be issued due to the nature the thread ended in. You will be rewarded similarly to how solo threads do just without the cap, enjoy the xp from dead threads

The following players were credited for their posting: Elpharae

Elph word count: 2399
Flat XP rate: 239