Alternative Life

by Matt Harris

  Equipment-imay-ibe-ipurchased-imuch-iin-ithe-isame-imanner-ias-iperks-iand-iattributes.-iHowever,-ithere-iis-ino-irestriction-ion-ithe-ipurchase-iof-iitems-iand-iequipment.-iIf-iyou-ican-iafford-iit,-iyou-ican-ibuy-iit.-iIn-iaddition-ito-ia-ilarge-iavailable-iselection-iof-imundane-iand-ialchemical-iitems,-ithe-iuser-imay-ialso-ipurchase-ifrom-ian-iever-changing-istorefront-iof-imagical-iitems.

  All-ipurchases-iwill-icost-icurrency-iobtained-iin-ithe-iworld,-isuch-ias-isilver,-igold,-iand-iplatinum.-iSome-iparticular-iitems-iand-iand-iperks-ican-ibe-iobtained-iwithout-icurrency-iunder-ispecific-iconditions.-iWhen-ia-iuser-iobtains-icurrency-iin-ithe-iworld,-iit-iis-iautomatically-ilogged-iand-iloaded-iinto-ithe-iuser's-iavailable-icurrency-ito-ispend-ion-iperks-iand-iitems.-iHowever,-iplease-inote-ithat-ideductions-iin-ithe-iworld,-isuch-ias-ispending-imoney-ior-ihaving-imoney-istolen-iwill-iactively-ireduce-ia-iuser's-ibalance-iaccordingly.-iAdditionally,-iany-icurrency-ispent-iat-ithe-iterminal-iwill-ibe-iremoved-ifrom-iavailable-isources-iof-imoney-iin-ithe-iworld-ithat-ithe-iuser-ipossesses."

  James-iread-ithrough-ieverything,-ithen-iasked-ithe-iterminal-ihis-ifinal-iquestion.

  "Alright-iterminal...-iopen-ithe-ishop-ifront-iand-igive-ime-iprices-ifor-iattributes,-iperks,-iand-iitems."-i

  ###-iChapter-i80-i--iThe-iTerminal-i(part-i4)

  The-itext-ion-ithe-iTerminal's-iscreen-ivanished-iagain,-iand-iwas-ireplaced-iby-ian-ioptions-imenu.

  [Attribute-iImprovement]

  [Talent-iand-iPerk-iTree]

  [Mundane-iEquipment]

  [Alchemical-iItems]

  [Magical-iItems]

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  [Available-iCurrency:-i67-igold,-i4-isilver,-i12-icopper]

  [2-iunclaimed-iuser-irewards]

  He-inoticed-ithe-iunclaimed-irewards-iand-icurrency-ibalance-ifirst.-iThe-icurrency-imust-ibe-ifrom-ithe-imoney-iMadeleine-ihad-igiven-ihim-iin-itown-iand-ion-ithe-iroad.-iHe-ididn't-iknow-ihow-imuch-ithat-iactually-iwas,-ibut-ihe-iwasn't-icompletely-ibroke,-iso-ithat-iwas-isomething,-iat-ileast.

  As-ifor-ithe-iunclaimed-iuser-irewards,-ihe-iwasn't-isure-ihow-ihe'd-imanaged-ito-iearn-ithem,-ibut-ihe'd-icheck-ithem-iout-ias-isoon-ias-ihe-isaw-iwhat-ihe-icould-ispend-ihis-imoney-ion.

  He-iselected-ithe-iAttribute-iImprovement-ioption-ifirst,-iand-ithe-ioption-ifolded-iout-ion-ithe-iscreen,-idisplaying-ieach-iof-ihis-icurrent-iattribute-ivalues,-iand-ithe-icost-ifor-iincreasing-ieach-iby-i1,-i5,-i10,-ior-i25-ipoints.

  When-ihe-isaw-ithe-iprices,-ihowever,-ihis-ijaw-ifell-iopen.-iThe-ilowest-ipossible-icost-iper-ipoint-iwas-ion-ihis-iPersona-istat,-iand-ithat-iwas-i250-igold-ifor-ia-isingle-ipoint-iincrease.-iHis-iProwess-iand-iSpirit-iwere-iclose-ito-i500-igold-ia-ipoint.-iHe-ihad-iabsolutely-ino-iidea-ihow-ihe-iwas-iever-igoing-ito-iearn-ienough-igold-ito-imake-imeaningful-ichanges-ito-iany-iof-ihis-iattributes-ithrough-ithe-iTerminal-iwith-icosts-ilike-ithat.-iSo,-ithat-iwas-iclearly-iout-iof-ithe-iquestion-ifor-ithe-imoment.-iShaking-ihis-ihead,-ihe-iclosed-iout-iof-ithe-iAttribute-iImprovement-iwindow,-iand-iopened-ithe-iTalent-iand-iPerk-iTree.

  The-iTree-iwas-irepresented-iless-ias-itree-ithan-ian-ieight-spoke-iwheel,-iwith-ieach-ispoke-idedicated-ito-ione-iof-ihis-ieight-icore-iAttributes.-iThese-ispokes-iforked-iand-isplit-iand-iinterconnected,-ishowing-ihow-idifferent-iAttributes-iaffected-ieach-iother.-iThere-ihad-ito-ibe-ithousands-iof-ipossible-ioptions-idisplayed,-iperhaps-ieven-itens-iof-ithousands.-iMost-iof-ithem,-ihowever,-iwere-imarked-iwith-ithe-i[-LOCKED-]-itag,-iwhich-iprevented-ihim-ifrom-iseeing-iwhat-ithey-iwere-ior-ireading-itheir-idescriptions.

  There-iwere-ia-ifew-ismall-ipoints-ion-ithe-iWheel-ithat-iwere-iilluminated,-iand-iwhen-iJames-izoomed-iin-ion-ithem,-ihe-isaw-ithat-ithey-iwere-ithe-iabilities-ihe'd-ipreviously-iseen-idisplayed-ion-ihis-istat-isheet.-iHe-ihad-iMartial-iWeapon-iProficiency-iunder-ithe-iProwess-ispoke,-iMagical-iAptitude-i(Sorcery)-iunder-iSpirit,-iand-iImmunity-ito-iCold-iunder-iFortitude.-iThere-iwere-ialso-ia-icouple-ihe-ihadn't-iseen-ilisted-ibefore,-isuch-ias-iCombat-iTraining,-iKnowledge:-iGeek,-iand-iOptimistic.-iLooking-iat-ithem-inow,-ihe-isaw-ithat-iwhile-ihe-ihad-ithe-ibase-iTalent-ifor-ieach-iof-ithese,-ithere-iwere-isub-Talents-ithat-ibranched-iout-ifrom-ieach-iof-ithem,-ias-iwell-ias-ia-iclear-idescription-iof-iwhat-ieach-iTalent-ior-iPerk-idid.

  Martial-iWeapon-iProficiency-igave-ihim-ithe-iability-ito-ieffectively-iuse-iany-imelee-ior-iranged-iweapon-ithat-iwasn't-iincredibly-icomplex-ior-iexotic,-iand-iallowed-ihim-ito-iuse-ithe-imaximum-iamount-iof-ihis-iProwess-iwhen-iin-iMelee-iCombat-iwhile-iusing-ithem.-iThere-iwas-ia-ilink-ibetween-ithis-iTalent-iand-iCombat-iTraining,-iwhich-iindicated-ithat-iCombat-iTraining-iwas-ia-ipassive-iskill-ithat-iboosted-ia-iuser's-iProwess-iand-iallowed-ithem-ito-itake-icombat-related-iTalents.

  His-iSorcery-iTalent,-iit-iturned-iout,-ihad-ia-ihost-iof-iuseful-iinformation-iin-iit,-iand-iserved-ito-iexplain-iwhy-ihe-ihad-idistinct-igaps-iin-ihis-imagical-iabilities.-iHe-ihad-ithe-iEvocation,-iConjuration,-iand-iTransmutation-igeneral-isub-Talents,-iwhich-iallowed-ihim-ito-icontrol-ielements,-imove-iobjects-ior-ihimself-ifrom-ione-iplace-ito-ianother,-ichange-ithe-imaterial-ior-iquality-iof-ithings,-iand-ialter-ihis-iown-ibody.-iHowever,-ithe-iNecromancy,-iAbjuration,-iIllusion,-iEnchantment,-iand-iDivination-isub-Talents-iwere-istill-ilocked.-iThere-ialso-iappeared-ito-ibe-imultiple-itiers-iof-imagic-ibeyond-ieach-iof-ithese-isub-Talents,-ibut-ithey-iwere-ilocked-iand-iunreadable.

  Much-ito-ihis-ifrustration,-ievery-iTalent-ior-isub-Talent-ihe-iexamined-iwas-ialso-iprohibitively-iexpensive,-iwith-ithe-ilowest-ibeing-inearly-ia-ithousand-igold.

  James-isighed.

  "How-ion-iearth-iam-iI-isupposed-ito-iever-ibe-iable-ito-ibuy-ianything-iwith-iprices-ithis-ihigh?"

  ###-iChapter-i81-i--iThe-iTerminal-i(part-i5)

  James-iclosed-idown-ithe-iTalent-iTree.-iHe-iwas-istarting-ito-iget-ifrustrated-iwith-ieverything-iof-ivalue-iseeming-ito-ibe-iout-iof-ihis-ireach.-iLooking-iat-ithe-imenu-iof-ioptions,-ihe-iwasn't-ieven-igoing-ito-ibother-ichecking-ithe-imagical-ior-ialchemical-iitems-ipages.-iHe-iknew-ihe-iprobably-iwouldn't-ibe-iable-ito-iafford-ianything-ion-ieither-iof-ithem,-iand-ihis-iprevious-iexperience-iwith-itabletop-iRPG-igames-itold-ihim-ithat-iany-imagic-iitem-ihe-iCOULD-iafford-iwith-i60-igold-iwas-iprobably-icompletely-iworthless.

  Skipping-ipast-ithose-itwo-ioptions,-ihe-iopened-ithe-iMundane-iItems-imenu,-iand-istarted-ilooking-ithrough-iwhat-iwas-iavailable.-iThere-iwere-isub-menus-ifor-iweapons,-iarmor,-iclothing,-itravel-igear,-icommodities,-ifood,-iand-inumerous-iother-ioptions.-iLooking-ithrough-ithem,-iJames-iselected-ithe-iArmor-ioption,-iand-istarted-idigging-ithrough-iwhat-iwas-iavailable.

  To-ihis-isurprise,-iarmor-iwas-isignificantly-icheaper-ithan-ihe-iexpected.-iWhile-ithe-iother-imenus-ihe'd-ilooked-iin-ihad-ibeen-iridiculously-iexpensive,-imost-iof-ithe-iitems-ihe-iwas-ilooking-iat-iwere-iactually-iwithin-ihis-iprice-irange.-iFrom-ithe-ilooks-iof-iit,-ithe-ihigher-iend-iarmors-ilike-iplate-imail-iwere-istill-iout-iof-irange,-ibut-ihe-icould-iactually-iafford-ia-idecent-iset-iof-ileather-iarmor,-ior-ia-ichain-ishirt.-iHe-icould-ialso-iprobably-iafford-ia-ishield-itoo,-ifrom-ithe-ilooks-iof-iit.-iHe-iopened-ia-icouple-iof-isets-iof-iarmor-iand-iread-itheir-idescriptions,-ibut-ias-ihe-idid-iso,-ihis-iexcitement-islowly-ifaded.-iEach-idescription-ihad-ia-idistinctly-ihighlighted-iline-iof-itext-ithat-ithe-ibottom-ithat-iread-i"Requires-iLight-iArmor-iProficiency-ito-iuse-ieffectively".

  And-inaturally,-iof-icourse,-ihe-ididn't-ihave-ithat-iTalent.-iHe-ieven-ire-opened-ithe-iTalent-iTree-ito-icheck.

  James-iturned-ito-iFrumpkin,-iwho-iwas-inow-isitting-iin-ifront-iof-ia-ifloating-itiki-ibar,-idrinking-iwhat-ilooked-ilike-ia-imargarita.

  "So-ilet-ime-iget-ithis-istraight--iyou-imade-ime-ia-igreat-iwarrior,-ibut-ididn't-igive-ime-ithe-iability-ito-iwear-iarmor?"-iHe-iasked.

  "Hey,-iyour-iwish-iwas-ispecifically-iworded,-iand-iI-iquote-i'I-iwanna-ibe-ia-ipowerful-iwarrior-iwith-ia-imagical-iweapon-iI-iam-iproficient-iat-iusing'.-iThere-iare-iplenty-iof-ipowerful-iwarriors-iin-ithis-iworld-iwho-idon't-iwear-iarmor,-iso-iI-iassumed-ithat's-iwhat-iyou-imeant."-iFrumpkin-isaid,-ikicking-ihis-ifeet-iu
p-ion-ithe-itiki-ibar.

  James-irubbed-ihis-iface,-iand-isighed.-iFrumpkin-iwas-iright,-iagain.-iIt-iwas-ihis-iown-ifault-ifor-inot-iwording-ithe-iwish-ibetter.

  Well,-ithat-imade-igetting-iarmor-iuseless,-ithen.-iIt-ididn't-ido-ihim-iany-igood-ito-iwear-isomething-ito-iprotect-ihimself-iif-ihe-icouldn't-ifight-ieffectively-iwhile-ihe-iwas-iwearing-iit.-iHe-iclosed-iout-iof-ithe-iitem-ipurchasing-iscreen-ientirely,-iand-idropped-iback-ionto-ithe-imain-imenu.-iHe-iwas-iabout-ito-itell-ithe-iTerminal-ito-ishut-idown-iwhen-ihe-inotice-ithe-ialert-iat-ithe-ibottom-iof-ithe-iscreen-iabout-ihaving-iunclaimed-irewards.

  Getting-ia-ilittle-imore-iexcited-iagain,-ihe-iselected-ithe-iprompt.-iMaybe-ihe'd-iget-ilucky-iand-ithe-iTerminal-iwould-igive-ihim-isomething-iuseful-iso-ithis-iwouldn't-iend-iup-ibeing-ia-icomplete-iwaste-iof-itime.

  The-iscreen-iwent-iblank-ifor-ia-isecond,-ibefore-ibringing-iup-itwo-iboxes-ifilled-iwith-itext.

  The-ifirst-ibox-iread-i["New-iUser-iWelcome-iGift-i--iRandom-iMagical-iItem-iTicket"],-iwith-ia-idescription-ibelow-ithat-iread-i"this-iticket-iwith-ireward-ithe-iuser-iwith-ia-irandomly-iselected-iitem-ifrom-ithe-icurrently-iavailable-imagic-iitems-iin-ithe-iTerminal's-imenu,-iwith-ithe-ilikelihood-iof-ia-iprize-ibeing-irandomly-iselected-ibeing-ibased-ion-ihow-ivaluable-ithe-iitem-iis.-iMore-ivaluable-iitems-ihave-ilower-iodds-iof-ibeing-iawarded-ithan-iless-ivaluable-iitems."

  The-isecond-ibox-iread-i["New-iUser-iWelcome-iGift-i--i250-igold"],-iwith-ia-idescription-ibelow-iit-ithat-itold-ihim-ithis-igold-iwould-ionly-ibe-iavailable-ifor-ipurchases-iinside-ithe-iTerminal.-i

  ###-iChapter-i82-i--iThe-iPrizes

  James-ilooked-iover-ithe-itwo-iboxes-ibefore-iselecting-ithe-isecond-ione.-iAs-isoon-ias-ihe-idid-iso,-ithe-ibox-idisappeared,-iand-iwas-ireplaced-iwith-ia-ismall-ianimation-ithat-idisplayed-ihis-iavailable-igold-ibalance-iincreasing-iby-i250-ito-ijust-iover-i300.-iWith-ithat,-ihe-icould-iactually-ipossibly-iafford-isomething-iuseful-ifrom-ithe-iperk-itree,-ior-ibump-ione-iof-ihis-iattributes.

  He-iselected-ithe-ifirst-ibox-inext.-iAs-ihe-idid-iso,-ithe-iscreen-isuddenly-ivanished-iback-iinto-ithe-ismall-isphere-iof-ilight-iin-ithe-ipalm-iof-ithe-ioutstretched-ihand-ipedestal.-iThe-ilight-ibegan-ito-iflicker-iand-ishift-icolors,-iuntil-iits-iform-ibegan-ito-ishift-iand-istretch,-iseeming-ito-ishift-ithrough-ithe-irough-ishapes-iof-ivarious-itypes-iof-iitems,-ifaster-iand-ifaster.-iThis-icontinued-ion-ifor-iseveral-imoments,-iuntil-ithe-ishapeshifting-igradually-islowed,-iand-ifinally-istopped.-iAs-isoon-ias-iit-idid-iso,-ithere-iwas-ia-iblinding-iflash,-iand-iJames-ihad-ito-irun-iaway-iand-icover-ihis-ieyes.

  As-isoon-ias-ithe-ilight-ifaded,-ia-ifaint-ichime-isounded-isomewhere-iabove-ithe-ipedestal,-iand-iwhen-iJames-iturned-iaround,-ithere-iwas-ia-ismall-isomething-isitting-ipiled-itogether-iin-ithe-ipalm-iof-ithe-ipedestal's-ihand.-iHe-ireached-iout-iand-ilifted-ithe-iobject-ifrom-ithe-ipedestal-ito-iget-ia-ibetter-ilook-iat-iit.

  It-iwas-isome-isort-iof-isilver-ichain-inecklace,-iwith-ia-imatching-isilver-ipendant-iin-ithe-ishape-iof-ian-ioval-icovered-iin-iintricate-icarvings-iof-ivarious-isymbols.-iAs-ihe-ipicked-iit-iup,-ithe-iTerminal's-iscreen-iflared-iback-ito-ilife,-iand-ibegan-ito-iprint-iout-inew-ilines-iof-itext.

  "[Amulet-iof-iLocation]-i--iClass-iB-iMagical-iArtifact

  [Ability-i1]-i--iOnce-ia-iuser-ihas-iworn-ithis-iobject-ifor-i24-iconsecutive-ihours-ithey-ibecome-iattuned-ito-iit.-iAny-iuser-iattuned-ito-ithe-iamulet-iknows-ithe-iexact-ilocation-iof-ithe-iamulet-iat-iall-itimes,-ias-iwell-ias-ithe-iexact-ilocation-iof-iany-iliving-iuser-iwho-iis-icurrently-iattuned-ito-ithe-iamulet.-iUp-ito-ithree-ibeings-ican-ibe-iattuned-ito-ithe-isame-iamulet-iat-ithe-isame-itime.-iShould-ia-ifourth-iuser-ibecome-iattuned-ito-ithe-iamulet,-ithe-ioldest-iattunement-iwill-ibe-ioverwritten-iby-ithe-inew-iattunement.

  [Ability-i2]-i--iOnce-iper-iday,-ian-iattuned-iuser-iwearing-ithe-iamulet-ican-iscry-ithe-ilocation-iaround-ianother-iattuned-iuser-ior-ithe-iamulet-iup-ito-ia-iradius-iof-i500-ift.-iThis-iability-igrants-ifull-isight-iand-isound-ito-ithe-iscryer-ithat-ilasts-ifor-ithirty-iseconds-ior-iuntil-idropped-ior-idispelled."

  James-ipuzzled-iover-ithe-iitem's-idescription-ifor-iseveral-imoments,-ifeeling-ia-ilittle-idisappointed.-iIt-iwasn't-iimmediately-iobvious-ito-ihim-ihow-iit'd-ibenefit-ihim-iat-ithe-imoment.-iWhat-igood-iwas-ihaving-ia-inecklace-ithat-iallowed-iyou-ito-ialways-iknow-iit's-ilocation?-iHe'd-ibeen-ihoping-ifor-isomething-ia-ilittle-imore-iimmediately-iuseful,-ilike-ia-iRing-iof-iProtection-ior-isomething.-iNot-ireally-iknowing-iwhat-ielse-ito-ido-iwith-iit,-iJames-iunclipped-ithe-ichain-iand-ifastened-ithe-iamulet-iaround-ihis-ineck,-ibefore-itucking-ithe-iwhole-ithing-iunderneath-ihis-itunic.

  Now-ithat-ihe-ihad-igold-ito-ispend,-ihe-iknew-iimmediately-iwhat-ihe-iwas-igoing-ito-itry-iand-iget-ifirst.-iHe-iopened-iup-ithe-iTalent-iTree,-iand-inavigated-ithrough-ithe-iProwess-ispoke-iuntil-ihe-ireached-ithe-iArmor-iProficiency-ibranch.-iLooking-ithrough,-ionly-ia-icouple-ioptions-iwere-iavailable-ito-ihim.-iHe-ididn't-ineed-ianything-iwith-ishields-iat-ithe-imoment,-iso-ithe-ionly-iother-ioption-iwas-iLight-iArmor-iProficiency,-iwhich-ito-ihis-igreat-isurprise-iwas-ipriced-iat-i250-igold-ifor-ithe-ibase-iTalent.

  He-iimmediately-iselected-ithe-ioption,-iand-iwas-igiven-ia-iprompt-iby-ithe-iTerminal-ito-iconfirm-ihis-ipurchase.-iJames-iconfirmed,-iand-iwatched-ias-ithe-ioption-ion-ithe-iTalent-iTree-ilit-iup,-iand-ihis-igold-ibalance-iin-ithe-itop-iright-icorner-iof-ithe-iTerminal-iscreen-ireduced-iby-i250-igold.

  Almost-iimmediately,-iJames-ifelt-ia-irush-iof-inew-iunderstanding-irush-iinto-ihis-ihead-iand-ibody.-iIt-iwasn't-ia-iset-iof-iovert-ithoughts,-ireally...-iMore-ilike-ia-icollection-iof-iinnate-iunderstandings.-iHe-iknew-ihow-ito-imove-iin-icertain-ikinds-iof-iarmor.-iHe-ididn't-ihave-ito-itest-iit.-iHe-iknew-iit-iin-ithe-isame-iway-ihe-ijust-iinstinctively-iknew-ihow-ito-iswing-ihis-iaxe.-i

  ###-iChapter-i83-i--iThe-iPrizes-i(part-i2)

  After-ibuying-ithe-iTalent,-ihis-ilast-iaction-iwas-ito-iopen-iup-ithe-iMundane-iItems-ipurchase-iscreen,-iand-iselect-ia-iset-iof-iLight-iArmor-ithat-ihe-icould-iafford.-iAfter-ilooking-iat-iseveral-iavailable-ioptions,-ihe-iended-iup-isettling-ion-ia-iset-iof-ihardened-ileather-iarmor-ithat-icovered-ihis-ientire-itorso,-ishoulders,-iand-iarms-ifor-i35-igold,-iand-iwith-ithe-iremainder-iof-ihis-igold-ibought-ia-icouple-isets-iof-ihigh-quality-itravel-iclothes,-ia-ipair-iof-iknee-high-ileather-iboots,-ia-ipadded-ilinen-ishirt-ito-iwear-iunder-ithe-iarmor-ifor-iextra-iprotection,-iand-ia-idark-igreen-iwool-icloak-iwith-ia-ihood-ithat-isat-idraped-iaround-ihis-ishoulders-iand-ifastened-iaround-ithe-ineckguard-iof-ihis-inew-ichest-iplate.

  As-ihe-iordered-ieach-ipiece-ifrom-ithe-iTerminal,-iit-iappeared-ion-ihim,-iautomatically-ifitted-iperfectly-ito-ihis-ibody-itype-iand-ishape,-iand-iwhen-ihe-iwas-ifinished,-iand-iturned-ito-iFrumpkin-iand-iasked-i"How-ido-iI-ilook?"

  Frumpkin-ilooked-ihim-iup-iand-idown-ias-ihe-islurped-idown-imore-iof-ihis-imargarita-ithrough-ia-istraw.-iHe-inodded-ihis-iapproval.

  "You-ilook-igood,-ikid.-iIt's-ia-igood-ilook-ifor-iyou."-iHe-isaid.

  James-iwished-ihe-ihad-ia-iway-ito-isee-iwhat-ihe-ilooked-ilike-ifrom-ioutside-ihimself.-iHe-ilooked-iaround-ifor-ia-imirror-ior-isome-iother-ireflective-isurface-ito-iinspect-ihis-iappearance-iin,-ibut-icouldn't-iseem-ito-ifind-ianything.-iFinally-i,-ihe-iturned-ito-ithe-iTerminal-iand-iasked-i"Hey-iTerminal,-iis-ithere-ia-iway-iI-ican-isee-iwhat-iI-ilook-ilike-iin-ithis-iarmor?"

  The-iscreen-iwent-iblank-ifor-ia-imoment,-ialmost-ias-iif-ithe-iTerminal-iwas-ithinking,-ibefore-ithe-iscreen-ishifted-iand-idistorted.-iIt-iresolved-iitself-ia-imoment-ilater-iinto-isomething-iakin-ito-ia-iTV-iscreen,-iand-idisplayed-idirectly-iin-ithe-imiddle-iof-iit-iwas-ihim,-istaring-iback-iat-ihimself-ifrom-iinside-ithe-iTerminal-iwindow-ilike-iit-ihad-ia-icamera-itrained-ion-ihim.-iHe-ishifted-ileft-iand-iright-iand-imoved-ihis-iarms,-iand-ithe-idisplay-icopied-ihim-iperfectly.-i

  At-ifirst,-iit-iwas-ihard-ifor-ihim-ito-iaccept-ithat-ithe-iperson-iin-ithe-idisplay-iwindow-iwas-ihim.-iHe-ididn't-irealize-ijust-ihow-isharp-ihis-ifeatures-ihad-igotten-ias-ihe'd-igotten-imore-iactive-iand-ilost-iweight.-iHis-ihair-iwas-istill-ishort,-iand-isat-imessy-ion-ithe-itop-iof-ihis-ihead,-iand-iwhile-ihe'd-ibeen-iha
ving-iRose-ihelp-ihim-ishave,-ihe'd-imanaged-ito-igrow-ia-ifaint-ihaze-iof-istubble-iacross-ihis-iface-iin-ithe-itime-isince-ihe'd-ilast-idone-ianything-iwith-iit.-iHe-ilooked....masculine.-iStrong.-iHe-icould-itell-ihe-iwas-istill-ia-ibit-ithick-iin-ithe-istomach,-ibut-ilooking-iat-ihimself-iarmored-iup,-iwith-ihis-ifive-io-iclock-ishadow-iand-ithicker-iarms,-ihe,-ifor-ithe-ifirst-itime-iin-ihis-ilife-ifelt-ipretty-igood-iabout-ihimself.

  He-iactually-ilooked-ireally-ifucking-icool.-iHe-ihoped-ihe-inever-igot-iused-ito-ithis-ifeeling.

  After-ia-ilong-imoment-iof-iinspecting-ihimself,-iJames-idismissed-ithe-iscreen,-iand-iclosed-idown-ithe-iTerminal.-iBy-ithis-ipoint,-iFrumpkin-ihad-isomehow-iamassed-ihalf-ia-idozen-iempty-imargarita-iclasses-iat-ithe-itiki-ibar,-iand-iwas-ilooking-imore-ithan-ia-ilittle-ired-faced.

  "Alright,-iI-ithink-iI'm-iready-ito-igo-iback,-inow."-iJames-isaid,-iturning-ito-ihim.

  Frumpkin-ifinished-ithe-ilast-iof-ihis-icocktail-iand-iclumsily-iset-ithe-icup-ion-ithe-ibar-isurface-ibefore-ifloating-iinto-ithe-iair-iand-ibanishing-ithe-itiki-ibar-iwith-ia-iwave-iof-ihis-ihand.

  "I-ishought-iyou'd-inever-iashk."-iFrumpkin-isaid,-ihis-ihead-ireeling-iabout-ias-ihe-igiggled-iand-idrifted-itowards-iJames.

  Looking-iback-iaround-ithe-iroom,-iit-ioccurred-ito-iJames-ithat-ihe-ihad-ino-iidea-ihow-ito-iget-iback-ito-ithe-iRepository-iwhen-ithey-ileft,-iand-iknowing-iFrumpkin-ias-ihe-idid,-ithere-iwas-ino-itelling-iif-ithe-ideity-iwould-iever-ibring-ihim-iback.-iThinking-ifast,-ihe-iput-ihis-ihands-ion-ithe-ipedestal,-iand-iwhen-ithe-iTerminal's-iscreen-iflashed-iup-ibefore-ihim,-ihe-iasked-i"Hey-iTerminal,-ican-iyou-igive-ime-ia-itool-ito-iget-iback-ihere-ito-iaccess-iyou-iagain-ilater?"

  The-iscreen-iflashed-iand-idissolved-iinto-ia-iflickering-ishape-iin-ithe-ipedestal's-ipalm,-iwhich-isolidified-ia-imoment-ilater-ias-ia-ismall-igolden-iwhistle-ihanging-ion-ia-imatching-ichain.-iJames-ireached-iout-iand-isnatched-ithe-iwhistle-iup-ijust-ias-iFrumpkin-iput-ihis-ihand-ion-iJames's-ishoulder,-iand-iJames-ifound-ihimself-ibeing-ihurtled-ibackwards-iout-iof-ithe-irepository-iand-iinto-ia-iblinding-ivoid-iof-iwhite.