[X] Training: Mentality
[X] Socialize: Jet
[X] New quest.
Normally I wouldn't do this since the quest was below half, but in this case the quest is relatively easy.
Quest: Create a holy area to train and rest.
Hint: Your book now has details on how to sanctify an area
Reward: 1 skill point, Paladin skill: It takes most of a day, but you can bless an area. Gives the same effects as the skill Consecration
Time: You have 4 weeks.
Rolls. Charisma 50, Mentality 85
+1 Cha +2 Men
-----
You meet up with Jet after school on Monday. The boy's grinning at you when you walk up to him, and you find yourself cringing. That particular grin never bodes well for you. You grit your teeth though, and continue up so that you're right next to you.
"So, I hear you're tapping the ass of the Faithful?" The boy's grin widens at your look.
It takes a moment to get what he's referring to, and you groan. "I'm not having sex with Faith."
"Hottest girl in the school, and you're only meeting up with her after school to talk." Jet crosses his arms and gives you an incredulous look. "How dumb do you think I am? Bad girl like that has to like you quite a bit."
"I'm her... Friend I think?" You mutter and shake your head defining what Faith is to you is harder than you'd think, and you aren't certain the girl knows either really. "The girl has issues. I don't want to screw her."
"Seriously?" The brown haired boy raises an eyebrow at you. "I notice you aren't saying you aren't meeting her."
"She likes to play with medieval weapons. As in sharp metal swords and heavy smashing maces pervert." You cut off the obvious quip he was about to make to your comment.
"Hey, if you say there's no hanky panky, there's no hanky panky." Jet holds up his hands in surrender and you groan. "Just tell me when you start doin' it though. That way you can tell me how it went."
Your reply is a flat look, and Jet laughs as you start walking.
There is one good thing about the school you're in. It's situated in a place that makes it incredibly easy to get anywhere important. The buses are usually good about showing, and tend to go late. Furthermore the residential areas are clustered so that you can usually just walk to another place. Jet has to take a bus if he wants to get home, but you can usually hitch a ride to walking distance thanks to his parents. They're good people.
You reach the place and head in. Unlike your room, it's actually possible for you to move around in. Jet's still got an apartment, but his room has enough space for a bed, a small TV, and a few beanbag chairs. The guy even has a small computer that can hook up to the internet when his parents don't need the phone. The thing's loud and makes a lot of noise, but he's probably the only guy in the school to have all this personally. You'd be jealous, but you don't really care much for computer stuff. Jet likes it though.
"So, what you want to do? My new game isn't really two player." Jet mutters and shuffles through the games he has. "Wanna try to play through Final Fantasy 7 again?"
"Christ no." You groan and slump on one of the beanbags. "I don't got that sort of time and you know it."
"Yeah yeah." The geek has the audacity to roll his eyes and then sits on the other beanbag chairs. "So tell me, what you been up to then? Something's up, I can tell."
You give a half grin and pull on the bag you set at the door when you entered. "Tell me what you think of this."
The book of the light is golden and shining as always as you hand it to the boy. He takes it with a frown that slowly changes into a grin. "Hey, this is just like dungeons and dragons! Someone made a book about being a Paladin! Which god is it for? Some sort of sun god? The writing's cool too."
"You can't read it?" You raise an eyebrow.
"Nope. Should I?" Jet flips through the pages and frowns. "I mean it's cool and all, but the writing's worse than Greek to me. Maybe something like Japanese?" He hums a bit. "No, the formatting is off."
You sigh and hold out your hand. A shimmer of light appears in front of Jet, and his eyes go wide. "It let me do this."
The boy freezes, and his eyes widen. "Wait, are you telling me you're an actual Paladin?"
"I don't even know what you think it is, but I got armor, a weapon, and I can use the Light. Which is what that book taught me." You mutter and back away at the look of awe in your friends face.
"Ok, now that's absolutely steller. What can you do? Can you summon a gun? Can you burn people to death?!" The grin starting to widen on his face makes you groan.
"I can heal and break stuff. I can't summon a gun, and I might be able to burn people if I keep working on it." You mutter and hold your head in your hands. Why did you think this was a good idea?
"Well sounds more like you're a cleric instead." Jet frowns. "They do healing. Paladins have oaths and such that cause them to lose their power and fall if they violate them. Can you fall if I make you say damn the light?"
"No." You pause. "I'd lose power if I feel that I'm doing the wrong thing." You correct as that fact makes it's way to the front of your mind. "And I could get it back if I feel I'm doing the right thing instead."
"Huh, that's a lame ruling." The boy pauses as he realizes what he said. "Or actually, that's good! You could burn the house down so long as you think it's the right thing."
The look you give him in reply conveys your thoughts about that very well you think. Jet has the grace to look embarrassed and continues to flip though the book.
"How'd you manage to read it?" He asks curiously after a moment.
"Thought it was cool, and wanted to do some of the stuff in the end." You shrug. "You have to have a bit of want to believe in it."
"Well that's cool, but I'm pretty certain I believe, and I'm not seeing anything." The boy replies and frowns as he looks over the book more. "You sure?"
Your mouth opens and closes and you frown as you look at Jet. "You need faith. Believe that you can do the right thing with it, and that you need it."
Jet flips through it a bit more, and then sets it down. Shaking his head he kicks the book over to you. "Gimmie a bit then. I think I need it to sink in."
"Fair enough." You shrug. "Was hoping you could give me a hand. That's the cool part of what I've been doing. There's a bad part."
"Bad part." Jet mutters in reply.
"Paladins smite stuff." Your response makes Jet lean back, and you continue. "I've seen vampires. And demons."
"You're not joking?" Jet's smile is a bit weak as he looks at you. "Of course you aren't joking. You don't joke like that." The boy gets to his feet and paces in the room. "Demons and vampires."
"Yep." You state simply.
"Okaaay." Jet takes a deep breath and lets it out.
Then he very deliberately takes a controller on his playstation and puts in his favorite game. He turns the TV on and turns up the volume. The music starts to play, and he takes a very deep breath before letting it out.
"I'm going to play my game ok?" Jet mutters. "Have mom take you home, and we can talk tomorrow. I need to think."
"All right." You reply and nod.
A few minutes later you're dropped off at home and are back in your room. You look over the Book of Light for a long moment before going to bed. You have a new task. The book has details on this task. You have to sanctify an area. Which involves a fair amount of water, sunlight, and golden icons. That last part is the hardest. Fortunately you just need something painted gold, and not real gold. If you can find some spraypaint you think you can get something done, though you still need to make the icons too.
The next day Jet gives you a nod and a smile as you meet up with him. "All right. I don't think I can do that light stuff yet, but let me borrow the book for the rest of the week and I can give it a go."
--
Loan Jet the book?
You are Auto Socializing on Saturday with Mr Smith. (Competition)
Idea on where to find Icons?
*
