Tanks

Rocky turned around and saw the person who called his name running towards him while waving his hand.

It was a black haired kid who looked to be around 15 years old. He was handsome with smooth raven black hair brown eyes that gave a warm gaze. And a brilliant smile that lit up the surroundings and improving anyones mood that saw it.

"do you need anything?" Rocky asked

Jason nodded his head intensely as he reached Rocky and looked up at him.

"yes" Jason said as he reached out his hands to grasp Rocky's shoulders. But after realizing that he was too short to do so he went for Rocky's arms.

"i want you to join me"

Rocky cocked his head in confusion

"in what?"

Jason's face lit up in a grin as he answered

"grinding some exp"

Rocky made an expression that said that he understood. This was just one of those people who wanted to find a party. Yeah he had heard of a few people who were so extraverted enough to just be able to approach a person and invite them into a party.

They were still total strangers, but it was a game, what problems could come out of it?

Rocky shrugged his shoulders and replied

"Well I was already about to head out and grind some monsters, why not have a companion"

Rocky was a bit too innocent, which was both a curse and a blessing.

A grin lit up Jason's face. "great lemme send you a party invite"

[player Arch has invited you to his party]

[yes/no]

Rocky looked at Jason's username one more time to make sure it wasn't red. If it was red it meant that Jason was a player killer which was bad for Rocky. Thankfully it was even slightly green meaning that the player in front of him leaned more towards the good alignment. Rocky pressed yes

[you have joined Arch's party]

[party members]

[Arch]

[class: hidden]

[level: hidden]

[Rocky]

[class: warrior]

[level: 15]

Rocky opened his mouth to ask about the hidden class and level but Jason quickly interrupted him

"look I know exactly what you're thinking, "this is sus as heck" or something like that. But let me tell you its for a good reason"

Rocky looked at Jason for a good minute, his eyes narrowed as he craned his neck to look at Jason closer. Finally he said in a hushed voice

"do you have a secret class?"

Both Jason and Boops let out a evil cackle as Rocky said that in a shushed voice. The bait they had hastily put out had been caught by a big juicy fish.

Jason let out a small grin and raised his finger up to his lips.

Rocky sucked in a deep breath as he looked at Jason with amazement.

"no way, only 2 or 3 are known how did you get one?"

Jason let out a light laugh and pointed with his head.

"maybe later, but for now lets go grinding"

Rocky looked at Jason who was walking away one more time. He was still a tiny bit unsure about following a random person somewhere. But if he did have a secret class.... Rocky's overpowering curiosity drew him closer.

Until finally he followed Jason down the street.

Jason whispered to Boops as he walked slightly ahead of Rocky who was swiveling his head like crazy looking at all of the new sights of the city.

"that shouldn't have been that easy"

Players walked all around the player tags floating over their heads like a sea of names. Hawkers's shouts could be heard everywhere advertising nearly everything from fresh fish to common grade weapons and gear.

The sun shone above the city and the cry of seagulls at the port could be faintly heard. The smell of cooked fish got closer and closer as Jason lead Rocky to the marketplace.

Jason turned around to see Rocky in the process of wiping the drool falling down his mouth.

The gears in Jason's mind started to turn as he saw Rocky look at the stalls with fried fish pass them with a unbridled desire in his eyes. But when Rocky saw the price of the fried fish displayed on the stalls he would look back into his tiny leather pouch in sadness as he fingered slightly the few copper coins he had left.

Jason turned to Rocky and said to him in a cheerful tone

"give me a sec, I need to grab something"

And saying that Jason trotted off into the crowd. Rocky smiled seeing Jason's bouncing and joyful attitude. It reminded him of one of his friends. He was pretty sure that friend was also playing WOW.

Rocky found a stone bench that was laid right in front of a small fountain. And sat down resting for a bit.

He looked up into the bright blue sky and closed his eyes. He could feel the sun's rays beaming down on him. The bits of water droplets that got onto his arms from the water fountain behind him. The coldness of the stone bench as he leaned further into it. The loud yet muffled sounds of the crowds all around him.

And the smell of fried fish its fragrance wafting up to his nose. It smelled so concentrated he felt like he could smell the sea still in it. It was so strong and defining that he could almost picture a fish sizzling in front of him. The crispy skin and the soft flesh just waiting for him to consume.

And Lo and behold Rocky opened his eyes to see a fish skewer in front of his nose. He couldn't lie, he almost burst into tears when he saw it. He looked to see Jason holding the skewer up to his nose. Another one in his own hands.

Jason laughed to himself as he said

"I knew this would wake you up" as he handed him one of the fried fish skewers.

Jason then sat next to Rocky and dug into his own skewer. Rocky looked at the skewer in his hands.

He looked back at Jason who had already bit into the body of the fried fish with gusto and then back at the skewer in his hands. An indescribable warmth filled Rocky and he too dug into his skewer but with a smile.

[gratitude +1 (rocky)]

[gratitude +1 (rocky)]

[happiness +1 (rocky)]

[gratitude +1 (rocky)]

Jason acknowledged the points and went back to eating the fish. All thoughts of trying to get closer to rocky were momentarily thrown out the window as he ate the fish.

It was really good. Jason promised himself that he would make more in that style later. Jason looked over to see Rocky also polishing off the skewer and neatly placing the fish bones in a pile and then carefully putting it into his pouch to be thrown away later at a safe location.

"good huh?" Jason asked

Rocky could only nod as he let out a soft sniffle.

Jason hopped off the bench with a light hop and faced Rocky.

"well, this entire party is to grind exp right?"

Rocky nodded and stood up from the stone bench.

"yes" he said this time with more confidence and bass to his voice

"where to then?"

Jason let out a smile as he saw Rocky stand up. "the place that we are going to grind, is actually in the city"

While Jason said that he also reached out and nabbed the skewer Rocky was holding. He gave a light laugh as Rocky looked at him confused as he placed it into his inventory.

"I have a small history with metal skewers, even with something as small as this one, I think I can find a use for it."

Rocky continued looking confused but followed Jason as he lead them through the market place. Both of them continued to be tempted by the delicious smells and sights. Sometimes Jason did get tempted and took a small trip to check out a store with a really cool sign on it.

But Boops berated him back out. Eventually they passed the market place and through a few other districts until finally.

The streets started to appear dirtier, littered with trash and all sorts of other things Jason didn't want to think about. Less and less normal looking people appeared on the streets and now ragged homeless people populated the streets.

Though it was still daytime, their were numerous dark spots in the slums. Tall threatening people leaned on some of the torn crumbled walls. Watching over everything that happened.

Jason turned to Rocky and tossed him a mask Perseus had bought on one of his trips.

Rocky successfully caught it and looked at it with confusion.

It was a black and dark blue mask, with the dark blue part swirling in a flame pattern in the black background.

Rocky looked back up to see Jason donning a black cloak that hid his face. The hooded Jason looked at Rocky and though Rocky couldn't see Jason's face, he knew he was grinning.

"ya ready?"