“Whew… that was a close one.”
“It wouldn’t have been if Morozov wasn’t such a klutz.”
“I thought I told you to stop calling me that online; I don’t want some asshole figuring out who I am in real life.”
The three sit on the inn roof, dangling their legs over the ledge. Though this is just a game, enough sweat drips down their faces and soaks their clothes for it to seem as if they had been through a rough exercise. And through that they had been.
The small squad had beaten back the attackers, who though hadn’t brought a single ranged-class user as support still proposed danger in the form of potential reinforcements. Deciding against logging out on the spot yet not
brave
enough to venture far from their current position, Brave conjures a set of tools and supplies from his inventory to build a false protrusion to the roof.
The three each takes a different role in designing, building, and camouflaging the contraption, and upon its completion, they all settle into their temporary home. They fit just as tightly as a three magicians in a single magical box.
Cramped in this confined corner, Brave once again accepts his tactical retreat and follows his friends in logging out.
As Aleksandr comes to in the comfort of the club room, he realizes that the cold sweat he had developed in game had carried over into the real world.
“Disgusting, Morozov. Go take a shower or something,” Vasily’s brazen voice sounds from over on the couch.
“You’re the disgusting one. You’re just as drenched as I am after all that mental stress, yet you’re the one covering the cloth and sullying the place we are supposed to lounge on,” Andrei retorts, defending his closer friend.
Aleksandr shakes his head but says nothing; he is deep in thought, analyzing different outcome potentials for when the three return to the game. Vasily takes notice of this and shifts his glare from a scowl to a scoff.
“Don’t run a Red v. Blue in your mind. You know I’m better at those sorts of things, so just leave strategies to the strategy man.”
Aleksandr and Andrei cringe from this overconfident and childishly-worded statement. Before facepalming, allowing the stupid title to deteriorate his brain cells, Aleksandr shuts off the light and orders Vasily to sleep. After reclining back into his chair, he proceeds with the action, only to be cut off.
“Alright friends… friend. I’m heading out now. Gotta get going. Work starts soon,” Andrei states, realizing the relatively little time he has left before his obligation.
“You know that job is a waste of time. You’ll make more either completing this project or finding full-time work after you have your degree,” Braves voice trails on, falling upon deaf ears.
After Andrei leaves, Aleksandr takes a moment to wrap up his thoughts while packing his briefcase.
A time as good as any to head home
.
And so he does, locking the door behind him.