French toast and coffee and contemplation.

"...That's a cool look, by the way. I've thought about buying more gothy stuff but, uh, I guess I'm not actually sure why I haven't."

"I was like that once. But, like, your time is short. Live your best life."

"...Mmh. I reject death. It is the ultimate enemy, the destruction of all that makes a person be. There is nothing good, in isolation, about death. Even evil people - it'd be better to put them where they couldn't hurt anyone, if you could do that for free. The greatest possible loss of anything in this world, each person unique- You know, they say scientists are making progress on mundane therapies to delay aging? It's incredibly complicated biochemistry of course, but..." She shakes her head. "I guess that's predicated on, sort of, absorbed nihilism and atheism. I don't know if the cultivation world has any better insight into divinity or afterlife than the mundane one."

"Oh, me too. I'm just pretty fatalistic. One of the group died a year ago, it was pretty messy. Left an impact on me. And there's the tribulations between ranks - those kill cultivators too. So overall your chances of making high rank are slim."

"Oh. Sorry." She blushes again. She's getting emotional whiplash, a bit. "I think I will just - buy things I want, later. And I'll ask Winter Rose about that recipe later today. Good luck with whatever else you have to scavenger hunt for, by the way."

"It happens. And thank you. You finished with your french toast?"

"Close enough, anyway."

She proceeds to quickly down what remains.

Nix sets a red pill next to Trys' plate. 

"For being cool. Don't use this unless you've already taken body tempering liquid, and you'll want to just hold it in your mouth and suck on it to start with. It'll refill your blood and qi. Any last questions before I go?"

She carefully puts the little pill into her wallet, which goes in a pocket. (Handbag? Her? No, thank you.)

"-Use sparingly, especially at first, got it. Not a question, but I'm not that cool. Have a nice day."

"See you online. Later." 

Black Cross leaves a fifty pound note on the table, gets up, and leaves. 

Trys chats with the waitress some, explains Nix as 'a friend who wanted to see real fishing boats'. After a bit, goes home, reads the backlog, and posts to the cultivator chat room-

Black Dragonfish hunting w/Black Cross = success. And I see I've already been discussed. I was really surprised! Once again honored to be included. @Winter Rose, Black Cross told me you were looking for someone willing to try an experimental formula?

Mhm. Are you willing to take a trip out for it? I have pill furnaces going right now, so I can't just abandon them. 

Definitely, especially if you're in the EU.

Berlin. I'll pay your travel expenses, don't worry. Here's my address.

I'll be able to come by this week, I think. Any particular time or day?

I'll be minding my furnaces so any day is fine.

She looks at the differences between a series of bus and train tickets, and a flight. She calls out of work. Obviously worth it for this.

...Flight wins hard on convenience, even if she has to explain her 'medical condition' twice coming and twice going. And it's not even that much more expensive. She looks up hotels before she books.

Expect me Wednesday afternoon.

Glad to hear it.

Good luck!

🤩 :starry_eyes:

lol

lol

I'm sure everyone was as excited to start as I am right?

Also kind of regretting my cringey name a bit,

You'll grow into it. I did.