Game On

Chapter Twenty: "Garden Of Mist"

They stayed out until the sun began to set. There smiles and laughs lingering the whole way home. Sean waited until Mark went to tuck Lulu in for the night, before packing his travel bag. He kept the pack light but made sure to bring enough healing supplies for different needs. He didn't want to take any chances. Reluctantly turning on the mirror in the living room, he glanced at it as the in-game news stated. "More attempts were made on the second boss this morning to no avail. It is still unclear what lays beyond the garden gate to this old alchemist laboratory. While players are taking every measure to dig up information from the N.P.C.s but this town has very little in the ways of information since the previous Alchemist kept to himself. All that we know is that the Dwarven ambassadors of Ridge-rune, desire everything in that lab. Claiming their property was stolen and they want it back. Causing Human and Dwarven tensions to rise as curiosity stems from what this treasure is. The Dwarves refuse to say."

Panning on the old abandoned looking manor set in a beautiful housing area, the tiny fairy sprite reporter fluttered in to add curiously. "As more players turn on each other for the death of other players in their guilds. We can only speculate that whatever the alchemist stole is worth its weight in gold if recovered." Sean exhaled heavily, his eyes drifting to Mark, who no stood in the doorway watching him with arms crossed. Turning off the mirror quickly, Sean turned to face his bag, telling him softly. "I'm almost done. Then I can head up to bed." Behind him Mark casually said in a pleasant tone. "What do you think it is? A jewel? What else would Dwarves value?" Sean scoffed, shooting over his shoulder bluntly. "They value a lot of things besides material treasures. They guard them as fiercely as dragons. I honestly don't know... It could be anything." Mark wondered over to the sofa to stand beside him, upon asking. "Remind me what the snake said. Do you remember?"

Sean stopped strapping his bag up and thought a moment before replying. "Something about how it turns men upon themselves. And that our weapons will be useless. Which only makes me more anxious about this whole thing." Mark paced the room a little bit, lost to his thoughts. After a minute or so passed, Mark stopped and asked curiously. "Didn't the snake say that... it was a she?" Sean blinked, distantly uttering out. "Ya... I think he did. Stolen from her homeland." Mark shrugged, asking Sean with a smile. "You like Norse mythology. What kind of people or creatures do Dwarves steal from other homelands? Things that can dig?" Sean shook his head, mumbling out. "No. I mean, yes... but I don't think it is that. It the thing could dig; it would easily get out of a garden environment." Mark shrugged, teasing back. "It's a game. They are contained where the games want them to be." Sean rolled his eyes, but Mark did have a point. Biting the tip of his thumb, Sean walked to the window in thought. He couldn't recall a lot from the Norse myths anymore. Movies and game Dwarves had his information all mixed up.

Finally giving up, Sean shrugged out. "I don't know. It's been so long since I read or saw anything about it. But there has to be a way to find out." Mark pointed outside, asking lightly. "We can ask the snake again." Sean shook his head, telling him seriously. "We have to leave in the morning. I won't be able to heal him and ask. It would take me too long to recover." Mark gave him a concerned look, upon saying. "But do you wanna go rushing in without knowing what it is?" Sean slowly turned to meet Mark's eyes better, almost chuckling out. "Are you saying that you want to 'plan' ahead?" Mark stuck his tongue out at him, before mumbling out. "It's what you usually do. Besides... The fact she can turn men against each other has me... cautious." Sean nodded, moving closer to hug Mark. Mark wrapped his arms around him, whispering into his ear. "Let's call it a night." Sean nodded, sliding his hand to Mark's wrist to lead him upstairs. Heading quietly up to the bedroom, Sean opened the door and let go of Mark's wrist. Only for Mark to catch his.

Closing the door, Mark pulled Sean close and leaned in to kiss him. Enjoying the light loving kiss, Sean let out a soft whine as Mark's other hand traced up one of his wings. Stepping closer to Mark, Sean wrapped his arms around Mark's neck. His wings fluttering as they inched up from their resting position behind him. Mark's arms wrapped around his waist, hefting him up with little to no effort. Carrying him over to the bed, Mark whispered over Sean's lips breathlessly. "Tell me what you want me to do." Smiling, Sean told him as Mark laid him back over the soft bed. "Don't rush." Sean gasped as Mark's warm hand caressed his flesh. Their every deep kiss stealing his breath. Their entangled bodies providing a warmth and safety to the other as their lovemaking lingered throughout the night. By the time they were too exhausted to play anymore, the morning came and faded into afternoon. When Sean finally awoke to the light streaming in through his window, he groaned and glanced at the clock.