Mark carried Sean over to the picnic blanket to lay him down. Sean welcomed it with a sleepy smile, resting his head on Mark's lap. The feeling of Mark's hand running through his hair was calming, but his eyes were on Jormungandr. Jormungandr conversed with the N.P.C.s in a voice too low for him to hear, but he was just mesmerized by the almost metallic glint of his grey scales in the light. When Lulu approached him, the snake stopped speaking to the others and lowered his head to be more at her level. Sean grabbed Mark's arm anxiously as Lulu reached out to touch the snake's nose. Mark rubbed his arm though, telling him casually. "I don't think we have to worry about him unless we attack him. His health bar is showing up and he seems... docile." Sean rolled his eyes but couldn't help smiling. His smile only fading a bit when they people brought their livestock to Jormungandr, who simply opened his massive jaws of sharp curled fangs to accept the animal's whole.

Lulu looked a little distressed by it, until she saw that the animals were blindfolded and injected with Jormungandr's venom before being devoured. Allowing them an unseen and instantaneous death from just a small prick of his extremely lethal venom. Sean sat up and was going to call Lulu away from the dock, until Mark asked him curiously. "What are we going to do with the information?" Blinking, Sean looked at him and shrugged out. "I don't know. I thought we'd... stay." Mark licked his lips with an expression that made Sean nervous. Tensing a little, Sean asked him with concern. "You are not considering going... are you? Not after what happened..." Mark scooted away from him a bit in order to face him more comfortably. Then Mark blurted out seriously. "You heard the news yourself. No one has gotten passed the next boss. This game is... unfair. If we have this information, then we should use it. We all want out of here." Sean snorted, grumbling back. "Not all of us. You saw what people are doing to each other in here."

Mark inhaled deeply, before exhaling out firmly. "The longer we are in here. The worse things are going to get. We are gamers. We can beat this game and save people. People like Lulu..." Sean's eyes drifted to her. Watching her toss a chicken into Jormungandr's mouth with a soft squeal. A throat chuckle rippled the water from Jormungandr's throat, and he closed his mouth enough to swallow it. Lowering his eyes to the ground, he listened as Mark told him coolly. "We bought the house. Lulu can stay here where it is safe. We'll go and come back." Sean's wings trembled behind him. He didn't want to risk going there and getting killed. Avoiding Mark's eyes, he told him reluctantly. "If this was any other game, I'd let you. But this isn't. We are being hunted. My answer is no." Mark leaned closer, stating a bit more sternly now. "Sean... I need you to go with me. To watch my back. WE need to do this." Sean shook his head, then flinched as Mark got to his feet with a groan and stormed off.

Sean watched Mark walk farther down the lake, clearing muttering and cursing under his breath as he went. The sight of it made him wonder how much of it was Mark being unhappy compared to the Aesir blood in his avatar desiring another fight. Could he stop Mark? Or would his racial trait force him to leave him to pursue his goal? Swallowing, he looked down at his own hands and wondered if his own racial traits were keeping him from going. Or was he just scared? Lulu jolted him from his thoughts as she dropped down on the blanket and excitedly told him. "He's one hungry snake! I feel bad for him... they feed him so little, but he says it is better that way. If he eats too much, then he can't move when the need comes." Sean gave her a smile, reaching out to touch the cloth over her sensitive eyes. Lulu ignored his touch, asking as she reached for the basket. "Can we eat? Watching him eat made me hungry." Pulling the basket closer to himself, he pulled out her portions and told her happily. "Eat slowly."

Taking her tuna fish sandwich, she munched on it before asking around a mouthful. "Mark, ok? He looks upset." Sean opened his mouth, then closed it. Pulling out a grape, Sean mumbled out to her. "He wants to go fight another boss." Lulu stared at him unfazed, before swallowing and saying lightly. "You said no?" Sean nodded, popping the grape into his mouth to avoid saying anything for a bit. Lulu glanced at Mark, who was now swinging his sword absently. When her eyes met his again, she shrugged out. "Mark is good at games. He can do it." Sean dropped his eyes to the blanket, telling her openly. "He's good when he has nothing to lose from dying. But this... it isn't a game that he can screw around in. I don't want him getting hurt." Lulu giggled, drawing Sean's attention up to her. Giving him a smile, she rocked on her heels and shrugged out. "True. He does die a lot in games. Sometimes on purpose. It's funny. But... he dies a lot less when you play with him."

Sean blushed as Lulu added. "He plays better when he is trying to protect or help you do things. He focuses better. And you enjoy the challenge he gives you." Sean crossed his arms, asking curtly. "Do I?" Lulu blushed, mumbling out behind her sandwich. "Well... It's true. He challenges you and you... do it... because he helps you. He loves you." Sean tensed, but Lulu took another bite of her sandwich like saying that he loved him with a light matter. Biting the tip of his thumb in thought, Sean mumbled out. "You think we should go and fight the boss?" Lulu swallowed, telling him with a shrug. "I don't know. I don't play fighting games... but you both wanted to play this game. Didn't you? You can't get better if you don't play, right?" Sean nodded, then chuckled out. "Ya. You're right. Stay here." Lulu nodded but watched him get him and head over toward Mark. Mark didn't hear him approach and didn't see him because his back was to him. Upon swinging his sword to play with his different charged swings, he stopped when he saw the reflection of Sean in his blade.

Lowering his blade, Mark turned, and Sean slowed to a stop a few feet from him. Looking away again, Mark told him gruffly. "I don't think you want to talk to me just yet." Sean rubbed his collarbone meekly, telling him sweetly. "Then don't talk. Just listen. I was thinking it over... and I want you to know something." Mark kicked the grass, muttering out. "I know you're scared. I am too... but I don't want to be in here forever, Sean. My mother... My mother is probably going out of her mind right now. I'm worried about Chica..." Sean stepped closer, wrapping his arms around Mark's waist. Hugging him, Sean whispered over his shoulder. "Mark... I want to play this game with you. I wanna... have fun with you again." Turning in his arms, Mark dropped his sword and cupped Sean's face to kiss him. Sean's wings rose as Mark deepened the kiss. For a moment he lost himself in the kiss.

Until Mark's hands moved down the curves of his sides to his ass. Hitting the one spot that was sore from Billy's antics. Flinching, he broke the kiss and pushed Mark's hands away from his ass. Mark's hands eased back to his ass though, his hands much gentler when he rubbed Sean's ass this time and whispered back. "I wanna have fun with you too." Blushing, Sean shook his head, muttering out. "That's not what I meant..." Mark's lips pressed to his ear; his voice beautiful when he said without any lustful intent. "I know. So, let's have a little fun together." Mark's hands coaxed Sean to turn around. And Sean slowly obeyed. Once he was turned away, Mark pointed to the fishing poles stuck into a set of holders on the bank of the lake. Reaching back to take Mark's hand, he led him toward them. Picking up his sword quickly, Mark put it away and told Sean excitedly. "It took me a bit to figure out how it worked. But if Lulu can get it, then you can. Although, I doubt you'll catch what she did."

Sean rolled his eyes and picked up a pole. Holding the pole brought up the information on how to use it. So, he quickly read it over to himself. Halfway into reading it, Mark suddenly covered his eyes and whispered to him. "Don't read it. That takes the fun out it for me. Just... trust me?" Pulling Mark's hand down, he reluctantly swiped the tutorial away and shrugged out. "Alright. Show me." Standing behind him, Mark passed him a piece of bait, telling him lovingly as his lips brushed along Sean's shoulders. "First. Put this on your hook. It is scented bait so it should lure your prey in." Blushing, Sean hooked the piece of raw meat that was dripping with something, but he could barely focus. His skin was tingling from Mark's breath and lips. At his neck, Mark bit him a little and teased out. "Swing your arm back and hold it to charge. Then release." Sean carefully swung the rod back and watched the bar charge up, while Mark teased out in his other ear. "Try not to hit the snake. And I'll play with yours." In the split second, Sean gawked at Mark and lost concentration on the charging rod.

The rod jerked in Sean's hand, letting out a twang as the charge burst from it. Mark smirked smugly, until Sean swatted him in the ribs. Then adjusting himself, Sean tried again. This time he got a perfect release. Flashing Mark a smug smile, Sean dropped down to sit on the grass. Mark casted his own line, then dropped down to sit beside him. Leaning against Mark's side, Sean coolly told him. "I like this. It's relaxing." Draping an arm over Sean's shoulders, Mark purred into his ear. "Ya. I love it here. I'm glad we decided to do this." Sean stared absently at the water, telling him honestly. "I know you have a lot to go back to Mark... but I don't. Everything I want... is right here." Mark huffed, telling him nicely. "We could do this in the real world... together." Sean leaned forward, shrugging out. "When? We're always so busy. Miles away... Out there, I feel like a completely different person. In here... I can start over." Mark nodded but said nothing.

After a minute of silence, Mark told Sean in a deep warm honeyed voice. "I understand. Part of me feels the same way... but this... body isn't mine. That isn't you. And I want to hold the real you again." Sean turned teary eyes on Mark, then leaned in to kiss him. The kiss was tender, and Sean almost dropped his pole, when something tugged at it. Jerking back from Mark, Sean tried to hold onto the rod, but it started to pull him toward the water. Just before he was about to let go, Mark grabbed it with him and used his strength to pull it back. Sean quickly started to reel it in, while Mark coached him on how to angle the rod to fight the fish's movements. After a long battle, the fish sprang free from the water and Sean grabbed it. Unhooking it, Sean excitedly told Mark. "Look at him! He's huge!" Mark ruffled his hair, then showed him how to put it in his inventory. He couldn't wait to cook it at home. Mark waited a bit longer for his own fish, but it got away. Resulting in Sean teasing him, until Mark bolted after him across the meadow.

Lulu laughed and cheered Mark on. Sean tried to take off into the air but miss timed it and Mark slammed into him. Tackling him into the grass where they rolled a bit. Eventually, Sean let Mark pin him down in the grass. Their fingers intertwined and Mark brought his lips to Sean's to tell him breathlessly. "I'll beat this game for you, Sean. But... Imay be a little selfish and take some time to enjoy every second with you here. In case that is all we get." Sean booped Mark's nose with his finger, telling him just as lovingly. "I know you will. Love me tonight and I'll fight by your side tomorrow. I love you." Mark let a small smile curl his lips as he whispered. "I love you too." Then they shared another long kiss. They only stopped, when Lulu called out to them in the hopes of playing some games. So, they did. They chased each other. They threw a ball around and just enjoyed the beautiful day as if it was a normal day by the lake. Their laughter filling the air until the N.P.C.s couldn't help but smile at them. To Be Continued...