Sean swallowed as he took in her rather wicked smile. Mustering up enough courage to ask her anxiously. "Depends on what you mean by 'acting.' Acting out what exactly?" Clare blushed a little, folding her hands under her chin as she answered coolly. "Well... Let's just say no one is in a hurry to do this side quest. I was going to do it myself for the experience and money, but I'm just not ready mentally." Shrugging, Mark stated confidently. "We'll do whatever to get out of here." Sean squeezed Mark's hand in silent agreement. Getting to her feet, she told them casually. "That's what I thought. I'll go out and pin the quest for you. Just add me as part of your party. Once you are locked into the quest, you can remove me from your party." Sean's heart ached as she said those words. It seemed so cruel to do such a thing to her. Mark brought up his menu and sent her a party request that she quickly accepted. Afterward, she patted Sean's shoulder as she walked out of the room, Sean inhaled shakily.

Her touch briefly reminded him of his own mother and what she might be going through now. Clare's father quietly collected their empty plates and moved to the sink to wash them. Allowing Sean to whisper to Mark discreetly. "Mark... Would it be so bad if we... didn't remove them?" Mark was silent for a bit as he thought it over. So, Sean added innocently. "Maybe... if we can't get back to Lulu. She could? Just to check on her?" Mark leaned back in his chair with a heavy exhale but spoke out to Clare's dad. "Can I ask why you chose to settle here? Do this as your job?" Clare's dad finished the dishes, turning around to face them as he chuckled out. "Sure. It's as far as we got in the game. My grandson was trying to help us develop different skills as a family. My skills went into being a healer with some divine traits. Which allow me to commune with the gods and gives me some holy magic that I barely understand."

Gesturing off, he added with a little smile. "My daughter was training to be the magic user of our group. She was getting pretty good too. She unlocked a lot of tracking abilities and distant targeting stuff while hunting with my grandson." Averting his eyes to the floor, his voice became hollow when he said softly. "My son was trying to prepare us for our first boss fight. He wanted to be one level higher. When it happened... After, we just took the available job in town. Seemed right at the time... Now I'm thinking it is unhealthy. Being surrounded by death..." Biting his lip, Sean glanced at Mark before openly telling him. "Look... We found this young girl. Lulu. She's all alone and with us being hunted now... I'm worried about her." Clare's father lifted his head to meet his eyes, while Sean nervously told him. "It's a lot to ask. But if you want to go somewhere less gloomy... She could use some help. The scenery is great there and you could try leveling up with fishing or... something. It's a big house..."

Clare's dad tried to hide a sniffle with a deep inhale, before nodding and mumbling out. "Ya. That sounds... That sounds nice. But you don't have to do that. We'd only bring gamers like you down..." Mark chuckled, shrugging out. "We're not bothered by that kind of thing. Besides, in a game like this. We need to stick together to beat it. We could use the help and skills you two would bring to the party. Even if you never fight. The jobs you'd do would help us get resources to advance. Otherwise... we will struggle later on when we have to rely on those things." Giving the older man a charming smile, Mark added hopefully. "Think of it like this. You help us and with every level we advance, it helps you. It's our way of repaying you for doing this for us. And with any luck... we can all get out of here a little faster." The older man nodded, then smiled to himself as he said with a growing fondness. "I see your point. Win or lose, I don't see a downside. It would be nice to feel useful again... and Clare... she could benefit from being a mom again."

The older man let himself smile more fondly, before adding in a cheery voice. "Let me talk it over with Clare. She might resist the idea at first... but after everything... we need this. Thank you." Unable to resist, Sean slipped from the chair and hugged the older man. Sean could feel from how he squeezed him, how much he needed it. It was all too clear how recently they had lost him. Sean didn't pull away. Letting the older man tremble in his arms for as long as he needed. Part of Sean wondered if the older man had allowed himself to mourn or if he taken it upon himself to be strong for his daughter's sake. Sean swallowed back his own tears as he tried to calm down. He couldn't imagine the pain they were going through and didn't think his heart could bear it if he tried. The sudden sound of a door closing made the older man pull away from him. Turning away quickly, the older man discreetly rubbed his eyes and Sean stepped back into Mark's embrace.

As he shifted to bury his face in Mark's chest, Clare came around the corner and uneasily asked aloud. "Everything ok?" Her dad huffed, still not looking at her as he strained out. "Ya. Something flew into my eye. Little bastard... Even in the virtual world there are fucking bugs..." Clare narrowed her eyes on Mark, who shrugged and added coolly. "Must be something going around." Rolling her eyes, Clare huffed out suspiciously. "Ya. Sure. Anyway, here. You need to put these on and head to the church. The N.P.C. said that the carriage will be leaving at midnight tonight. You'll get to the manor by midnight tomorrow." She opened her menu and moved some inventory out to set across the table for them. Once they were out in view for them, both Sean and Mark paled at the sight of it. Their reactions brought a blushing smile from her as she giggled out. "I know it seems weird but... apparently the host is doing a... theme for his masquerade party. So, if you want to attend it. You'll have to wear these and act like... well, you know."

Mark picked up the outfit restricted to him and choked out. "Ok. I have concerns about this party..." Clare shrugged, telling him innocently. "Did I forget to mention the age requirement for this quest? I thought I did... Oh, well. You said you'd do anything." Mark held out the outfit, blurting out a little stunned. "Well, ya... I said that. But this... This seems a bit extreme." Taking a seat, Clare shrugged out. "It's why they warned people so intensively about the... 'sexual nature' of this game. It wants to be more... inclusive. You'd be surprised what some of these side quests want you to do. You're lucky." Sean looked over Mark's outfit, trying to hide his devilish smile. He didn't want to admit it out loud, but he kind of liked it. The outfit came with a soft black loincloth that was embroidered along the sides in sparkling silver. Along with a long soft black hooded robe that was also embroidered in silver at the edges. The robe was designed to leave the person's chest completely exposed and flow like a cape around the person's muscular thighs.

The weirdest thing about it was that it came with a priest's leather choker, and he had to wear a goat skull masquerade mask with it. Mark noticed him blushing at it and growled out coolly. "Don't even think about it." Biting his lip, Sean shrugged out innocently. "I can't help it. I grew up catholic. And Mark... if you wore that at my old church. I'd probably still be an altar boy." Clare burst out laughing, dropping her head down on the table to hide her own blushing face. Trying to hide his own smile, Mark rolled his eyes and mumbled out. "Great... Just what I needed to think about right now. Way to get my motor started, Sean." Sean giggled, until he saw his own outfit. Then his smile faded as he blurted out. "No fucking way." Leaning closer to his ear, Mark teased into it quietly. "I'll take your confession now, sweetheart." Shoving Mark away from him, Sean cursed and snatched the outfit off the table with mild disgust. Composing herself, she told Sean tenderly. "I told the N.P.C. that you were both male, but he said that this was the couple's masquerade outfit. It's based on your avatar body types and your relationship status in the game... this is what you were assigned to wear. Sorry."

Mark leaned against Sean's back, teasing out. "We'll make it work. Come on, Sean. Let's change. We need to go soon." Grumbling to himself, Sean headed into one of the rooms to change by himself. He hated every second of it, but just wanted to get this over with. Equipping the outfit to himself, Sean reluctantly turned to face the mirror on the wall. He felt ridiculous. He was wearing a nun outfit with deep slits up the sides that showed off his long slender legs. Legs that were sleekly fitted into black stockings that only came up above his knees, where they were attached to a white lacy garter with silver buckles. Hanging down from one of the garters was a set of rosary beads with a dainty golden cross that glinted in the light. Down the front of the silky black dress was an embroidered white cross with edges of silver. The dress had no sleeves, but he wore a set of black elbow length gloves with silver crosses stitched by the tops and on the back of the hands. The headdress that should have been only shoulder length was instead longer to hide his long wings.

Like Mark's, his came with a mask. It was a simple full faced white masquerade mask with black lipstick and from the eyes it was crying tears of gold. The long tear streaks shimmered in the light and made his blue eyes stand out in a more feminine style. The only positive thing was the comfortable low heel black boots. Outside the door, Mark knocked and told him over Clare's soft chuckling. "Are you ready yet? We need to head out soon." Groaning with unease, Sean pleaded out. "Are you sure there is no other quest heading out? Because I'll wait..." Outside, Mark warmly told him. "Come on. We just have to wear it for a little while. We've worn worse. We can do it." Huffing loudly, Sean blurted out. "I've worn bras that cover more than this, Mark! This is... If my mother saw me in this... I don't even want to think of what she'd do to me. This is... blasphemous! And... and... dirty." Outside, Mark chuckled and warmly cooed back. "I saw raised catholic too, ya know. Come on. It's just a silly murder party quest. We can do this."

Reluctantly opening the door, Sean whined out to Mark as he avoided his eyes. "Mark... I..." Sean couldn't finish. He could explain how uncomfortable he was. Mark's fingers lifted his chin, his voice dropping to a deep silky tone when he purred out to him through his menacing goat skull mask. "You look like a tall glass of holy water... and daddy's thirsty." Sean cringed so badly that he shoved Mark away and muttered out in embarrassment. "Oh, fuck off with that. Just for that, I'm not going!" Before Sean could storm back into the room to unequip the outfit, Mark wrapped an arm around his waist and hefted him off his feet. Chuckling, Mark headed to the front door and announced boldly. "Oh, relax. I was just teasing you. Come on, we can't be late." Sean kicked and thrashed until Mark stepped outside onto the quiet street. Setting Sean down, Mark whispered to him seriously. "Time to play the part or get caught. Ready?" Yanking the outfit back into its proper positioning, Sean muttered out. "Fine. But I feel stupid..."

Wrapping his arm around Sean's waist, Mark whispered close to his ear in reply. "But you look sexy." Clapping a hand on Sean's ass, Mark nudged him into walking with a soft chuckle. Sean was thankful for the mask at that moment. He was blushing so badly that he was sure his skin was going to permanently retain a pink shade. Walking down the empty and gloomy streets, Mark whispered bits of their cover story just in case someone stopped them. It wasn't perfect but it was enough that Sean figured he could pull it off without issue. Just as they were approaching the gothic looking church in town, a tall muscular Aesir warrior stormed up to them and ordered firmly. "Hey! Who are you and where are you headed?!" Sean meekly stepped behind Mark, letting Mark state out in a dark commanding tone. "Heading to church. It's midnight mass. Care to join the cult, little lost sheep?" The Aesir warrior took a step back but tried to lean around Mark as he said boldly. "No. I'm content. Who are you traveling with? We are looking for some people and will pay handsomely for them. I'm sure you've heard?"

Sean let the Aesir look upon his masked face briefly before letting out a soft squeak and hiding again. The Aesir grinned widely, until Mark straightened up and growled out with obvious jealousy. "Yes. I've heard. In fact, it's the main topic of tonight's service. My virgin sacrifice is eager to lay her life down to find them." The Aesir's grin faded as it gawked out. "You plan to kill her? A virgin? Seems like... a waste." Mark took a menacing step closer to the Aesir, growling out eerily. "It's not a waste. We plan to use every part." The Aesir's face paled as he backed up and cleared his throat to say timidly. "I see. Well... if you come across them. Let someone know. We'll help you... contain them. Alive." Mark tilted his head, sinisterly stating out. "Alive? Now that is unfortunate." The Aesir quickly backed away and the second he was out of earshot, Sean giggled. Mark glanced over his shoulder at him, his smile barely visible under the long nose of the mask.

Taking his hand, Mark ledhim at a brisker pace to the steps of the church where a priest N.P.C. waswaiting for them. To Be Continued...