[attr="class","wesleft2"]

[attr="class","westitle"]Cafe De Swiss

Traveling from safe zone to safe zone was much more enjoyable than traversing the ~dangerous~ places. At least, it typically was. Sometimes Wes thought the real monsters were the other surviving Players. There were more than few with monstrous appearances and many more with just sinister auras. But here in "Unison Central", the guards placed by Earth-chan were the scariest things. Looming, ever-present figures, they warded off any nefarious activities and kept the Players in check. Wes found himself smiling every time he passed one.

Having pocketed enough points to forego exploration for at least a week, Wes had decided to leave his new home in Los Angeles and check out safe zones among the other servers. His first stop was Switzerland, a place he had been once before. During his sabbatical in Europe, he had spent nearly a week in the Alps. Though he learned skiing wasn't his forte, he did find that few pleasures matched drunk by warm fireplaces.

But the Switzerland he was in now was a far cry from the mountain-side towns he lounged in before. No, now Switzerland's appearance reminded him more of the root town Dun Loireag from the .hack franchise. A rabid fan of the series, Wes would have found the changed area exciting if it hadn't been the result of the world ending and if he hadn't been terrified of heights.

He stayed away from the edges of the platforms that circulated the floating peaks, preferring to walk along the physical mountains where he could and in the center of bridges when he had to. He was fine as long as he didn't look directly down into the mass of clouds--and nothing--below.

Eventually, Wes found his way to a small cafe. A bright white and orange sign hanging above the entrance read "Cafe De Swiss". From the big glass storefront, Wes could see a few patrons, and a glass counter filled with delectable pastries. There was some outdoor seating, but most of it sat on a patio overhanging the edge. It would be indoor seating for Wes.

Pushing open the door, his ears were met with the light chime of a bell, his eyes with a dim lighting and rustic ambience, and his nose with the sweet aroma of espresso. Overjoyed, Wes ordered a kaffe-crème and took a sip before he even sat down. He hadn't had coffee since before his Tutorial.

When he turned to find a seat, he tripped, sending his drink flying at a man eating an apple toaster strudel.

[attr="class","wesleft2"]

[attr="class","westitle"]Cafe De Swiss

"I'm so sorry" Wes said first to the clerk behind the counter, and then once again--and with more fervor--to the masked man on who he just tossed a scalding drink. "Let me help with that," he grabbed some napkins at the man's request and then awkwardly handed them over. He wanted to wipe the coffee off the man himself, but better judgement told him he shouldn't accost the fellow a second time.

When the man asked if he was okay, Wes offered a sheepish grin, "Oh, I am fine, are you okay?" He looked at the man's unmasked face and received a message from the system.



"Hmmm," Wes pondered aloud, but he dismissed the message and its contents. His embarrassment still overrode all other feelings. "I'll be right back."

He returned the counter, offering another apology to clerk for making such a mess, and ordered another kaffe-crème as well as a strudel. Carefully, he walked back to where the now-unmasked man sat. Wes took the seat opposite him and the slid the strudel across the table. "Not sure if you wanted a second one, but I was worried I may have also drenched the first." With another smile, a more relaxed and less-stressed one, he offered his hand, "I'm Wes."

[attr="class","wesleft2"]

[attr="class","westitle"]Cafe De Swiss

"Oh well it was clearly your fault for being in direct line of my flying coffee," Wes teased and shook Tommy’s hand. On the man’s remarks, Wes pondered out loud. "Alias, huh? I had never thought about using one. Maybe that’s my naivety showing. " It truly had never even occurred to Wes that using an alias—or at least not giving out his real name so easily—may be a smarter move in this new world. He’d known that people could be wicked, his tutorial was enough proof of that. Maybe he needed to be a little less trusting.

Wes continued to hold onto Tommy’s hand a bit too long for a normal handshake. A warmth worked its way across his face and a swell of butterflies fluttered in his stomach. Slowly, he pulled his hand away, and as he did, he found his gaze utterly fixated on Tommy’s face. Was he always this… alluring?

Not enough aware of himself to have a hint of shyness, and not nearly cognizant to remember that he was a terrible flirt, Wes placed both of his elbows on the table and rested his chin on his interlocking hands. He continued to just stare, completely lost to the Charm.

"So, Tommy," a took his time looking Tommy up and down before locking in for direct eye contact once more . "What do you like to do for fun?"

[attr="class","wesleft2"]

[attr="class","westitle"]Cafe De Swiss

Wes grew a little bored as Tommy started rattling off his list of hobbies--those were not the kind of fun he had in mind. Not until Tommy made mention of a secret did Wes's ears perk. He opened his mouth, ready to ask some follow up questions when a wink made him blush and pushed him silent.

Flustered, he listened as the man spoke his next question. Before responding, Wes paused. Despite the charm, or maybe because of it, he had a nagging thought that oversharing about himself--about his class--would not work out for the best. A clear-minded Wes would have thought that closely guarding one's class and ability information was important in this world. One never knew what another would do with that information. The charm-minded Wes, however, was only worried that telling the truth of his class would turn away the dashing gentleman before him.

And so he lied.

"Oh, I'm like a Ninja now", yeah ninjas are cool. "I got an ability that lets me do some ninjutsu and karate" Wes made a little chopping gesture with his hands.

Wes then leaned forward, resting a single elbow and the table and placing his head in his palm. "But enough about me, tell me more about you" a soft smile stretched across his face and warmed his words.

[attr="class","wesleft2"]

[attr="class","westitle"]Cafe De Swiss

Over his own stifled laughter, Wes listened as Zhao boasted about his class. The title Summoner certainly did sound cool, but Zhao didn't provide much details beyond that. Wes wasn't sure if that was an effort to conceal the intricacies of the mechanics behind his class or was just a bit of simple boasting. He also didn't really care that much.

"A friend request sounds nice, always good to have friends in a pinch," he chimed with a smile. A quick flick of his wrist and he sent the request to Tommy. Wes's action made him pause, pondering two thoughts. First, the act of sending a friend request was just too familiar for his taste. Wes didn't like how comfortable he had become with the new ways of this world. It had not been long enough for this to be his new normal. Second, Wes felt like he should send a friend request to Zhao as well.

The man was clearly, utterly uninterested in Wes and Wes knew nothing about him, but he seemed not-evil which was enough at this point. With a sigh, and the resignation of his laughter, he sent the request. If Zhao ignored it or dismissed it, Wes could at least feel comfortable knowing that he tried to be nice.

He took a sip of his coffee, the drink still warm. Earnestly, he engaged Zhao in conversation. Still wearing a smile, Wes waved to the nearby seat, "You can join us you know."