//------------------------------// // Episode 70 - Morning Meeting // Story: EQG: Sword Art Online - Aincrad // by Mindrop //------------------------------// Floor - 35 - Front Line - Floor 62 June 16 - Year 2 As soon as Backbreaker sat down for breakfast, Kiefer asked the question he had been waiting to ask. "Is Geigi Clan going to be joining us?" Astro and Backbreaker instinctively looked at Bladescape. Bladescape sighed. "It was discussed, but it is a highly fluid situation. Last night was a discussion between guild leaders. These types of talks happen all the time. Both of us decided that we needed to talk with our guilds first. We will have a meeting again in a few days. I was hoping to do this in the guild hall, but maybe the dining room is the better place so we can relax and eat. Together we will decide if this is a good idea to proceed with." Bladescape held her hand up, stopping several questions. "Before we continue, I need to say something. A merger will mean a lot of changes, we have been playing with the idea of a new, more up to date headquarters, but this will force us to get a new one, and a large one. Yet that isn't even what I wanted to say. By merging our two guilds, it may mean that we are no longer the Wondercolts, or that-" "No no no," Diemond said in rapid succession. "No no no, no no no, no no no no no! We can't! That! No! No no no!" "Breathe," Bladescape said. "Talk us through, slowly. We probably won't become members of Geigi Clan either if that is what you are afraid of." "I am not that shallow," Diemond retorted, snubbing her nose at the idea. "I don't think you understand the consequences of not being Wondercolts. I have worked very hard to craft our image. It isn't out of vanity that I am speaking. The only two of you who don't have horses on your armor are Joltron and Doombunny. And Joltron has our symbol on his cape. All of you have at least two Wondercolts symbols on your equipment. Many of our helmets look like horse heads! It has taken me days to make it all and craft our second image. We can't just simply change it! Especially yours, Bladescape. Ashley won't redo what she did." "Can't we keep the symbol but change colors?" Thunderborne asked. "Like, just re-dye the colors." "You can't just change the color of organic materials like paint Rainbow Dash," Diemond shot back, getting personal. "You don't understand fashion in either reality! Once it's made into the final product, I can't change it. That goes for both the real world and Aincrad! Use your head for something other than killing brain cells by hitting that soccer ball." "Cool it," Bladescape ordered. "Diemond, that is a valid concern and it is noted." "Nothin' is set in stone," Backbreaker reminded them. "Those things will be carefully taken into consideration. But Diemond, in the time you have, can you make a few options for armor that fit the Wondercolts standards an' would also be appealin' to the members of Geigi Clan and their idea of being human art?" "It is the art of being human," Diemond corrected Backbreaker, still angry. "And I have already been playing with a few Eastern Armor designs. That enterprise isn't new. Fuurinkazan was the source of that inspiration. It won't be hard for me to have a few things made up." "Not to be mean or rude," Joltron said. "But what can they do for us? What do we get out of it?" "Security," Astro said. She was prepared to answer that question. "Yesterday was tough, and we are on the top of the Clearers in both raw Levels and personal skill. We wouldn't have done any better with just our two parties. Maybe we would have had shorter engagements, but we didn't have the numbers to map the entire fifth floor. Things are getting tougher, and it’s the small guilds who will suffer the most. "There is strength in numbers. And that is true here. We are not looking to put everyone onto the front every day, just four parties. That means we can rotate in and out, and get the breaks we need while still being at the top. "Yes, it also means we will mix up who we fight besides on a daily basis, but, well, look at it this way. When we join up with Fuurinkazan, we don't stay in our guilds. We build new parties and balance things out so that we have three amazing, stronger parties. And it is fun. We got along great with Geigi Clan. We made friends. "Rotations mean that Backbreaker can go fishing more. Diemond, you struggle to get the materials you need. Your days off are spent running around, frazzled, as you pick up supply orders and make other orders. On a good night you get 20 outfits made. Now you will have more time for your creative love. Bladescape can ride her horse more too. I don't know what I will do, but I can find something, just like the rest of you." "Soccer," Thunderborne said. "More members we mean can get some other games going. We just need a room to play in that we won't knock anyone's heads off." "Good idea," Bladescape said, grinning. "AFCK, I know you love to cook, and it isn't exactly a burden, but they have several cooks who would help lighten your load. You also would have more players to cook for and enjoy your food." "Joltron is a great help, but I could use more," AFCK agreed. "I love cooking for you guys, but it does get tiring. Sometimes it is a lot of pressure for the quick turnarounds we do." Backbreaker leaned forward onto the table. "Sugarcube, anytime you don't want to cook, let us know. We can easily get food elsewhere. We don't want to take advantage of your love. Even if it is an accident." "Thanks," AFCK smiled. "We will need to level them up toward us," Astro explained. "We will need quotas. And once they are there, we can solidify party tactics and they will become a great fighting force. But it will take a lot of work for everyone. It will be worth it. Just think on it for the day as we hit the labyrinth. "I'm okay with them joining us," Diemond stated. "But I'm not okay with not being blue and yellow Wondercolts." "Noted," Bladescape nodded. "Now, gear up and let's get the day's work started." "I always thought we would absorb Fuurinkazan," Kiefer said as they stood up. "They would be living here for AFCK's food if they thought they could get away with it." Everyone laughed. Kiefer was right about Fuurinkazan wanting to live with them. It had never been expressed, or hinted at, but it was something they all knew was true. "That could've gone worse," Backbreaker said to Bladescape as they gathered by the door. As usual, they were the only two armed and ready for the day. "I don't know what I was expecting," Bladescape said. "We barely got the idea together last night. Are we imposing our will on them?" "Yes, we are," Backbreaker nodded. "But not in a bad way. As the Councilors, it's our job to lead them. And if we think we need to merge, we merge. Listen to them, get their ideas, but ultimately it's up to us." “I never thought about our symbol,” Bladescape said, looking at the giant one on her chest. “That is a major problem.” “It may be, but it may not be,” Backbreaker stated with a shrug. “We have no idea what they'll want.” AFCK came into the room from the kitchen. She was skipping and humming, unaware of their discussion. She probably wasn't paying them any attention, but they could no longer talk privately. Bladescape (SS): Lvl 83 – Two-Handed Sword – Search – Weapon Defense – Leather Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Sprint – Acrobatics – Blade Throwing – Extended Weight Carry - Greatsword Thunderborne (RBD): Lvl 75 – Rapier – Sprint – Acrobatics – Armor Pierce – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Leather Armor – Weapon Defense – Extended Weight Carry – Search Backbreaker (AJ): Lvl 78 – Heavy Shield – One-Handed War Hammer – Extended Weight Carry – Heavy Metal Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Fishing – Search – Martial Arts – Acrobatics AFCK(PP): Lvl 75 – Two-Handed Axe – Parry – Cooking – Weapon Defense – Martial Arts – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Light Metal Armor – Thrown Weapon – Musical Instrument Diemond (R): Lvl 75 – Heavy Shield – Mace – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Heavy Metal Armor – Tailoring – Light Metal Armor Forging – Heavy Metal Armor Forging – Jewelry Making – Extended Weight Carry Doombunny (FS): Lvl 78 – One-Handed Dagger – First Aid – Hide – Search – Listening – Battle Regeneration – Fighting Spirit – Familiar Communication (Colorra) – Drug Mixing – Reveal -- Fencing Astro (PS): Lvl 75 – Two-Handed Spear - Purchase Negotiation – Armor Pierce – Acrobatics – First Aid – Light Metal Armor – Battle Regeneration – Weapon Defense – Parry – Extended Wight Carry Kiefer: Lvl 73 – One-Handed Curved Blade – Parry – Weapon Defense – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Light Metal Armor – Slash Weapon Forging – Katana – Martial Arts - Search - Armor Pierce Lessa: Lvl 72 – One-Handed Sword – Shield – Light Metal Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Equipment Repair – Metal Equipment Repairing – Armor Pierce – Search - Acrobatics Joltron: Lvl 75 – One handed Axe – Heavy Shield – Heavy Metal Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Metal Refining – Cooking – One Handed Weapon Creation – Two Handed Weapon Creation – Extended Weight Carry