Sometimes, a series of systematic repetitions is indeed what a person needs. Subscribing oneself to a routine, checking that each nook and cranny is free of dust, or simply coming back home and immediately turning on the TV. Those are all patterns. Camille, as expected, was not so different in that regard. Even the passing of more than a good hour or so of time made no great difference, as our intrepid gamer, still ever so curious, had quite a few more things to verify. Namely in regards to her newfound abilities, her body tensed in resolute persistence.

"Quests." She finally voiced the main reason she invited Morgan over in the first place.

Camille then selected 'Socialization.'

Another box indicating that she had succeeded appeared.

Just like Camille had expected, she had fulfilled the conditions for one of the quests. Though it required some additional effort to select the completed quest within the menu, she supposed she did understand the reasoning behind it. When push comes to shove, she wouldn't want a giant box appearing out of nowhere in the middle of combat for example. Upon immediate notice, she then opened up the skill menu and inspected the nature of the ability given to her.

Oh, that's pretty sick. Though there was no precise information pertaining to how the skill worked, Camille's video game intuition told her that it would have been exquisite regardless. Still, was it really necessary that it was a quest of all things? As a fundamental of online MMORPGs or just multiplayer games in general, Camille held some qualms over how this skill even needed to be earned. Working to gain unique combative abilities was one thing, but even adding friends? To Camille, it was more than a bit odd. Still, she didn't want to dwell on it further. Rather than waste time on minute details, wouldn't it just be better to get it over with?

Focus. She inhaled a cold chilly breath and held back any further misgivings. Diverting her focus to the skill at hand, she then summoned what she supposed would have been the 'foundation' of the Socialization skill. A byproduct of a guess more than anything else, Camille just sort of figured it should work.

"Add Morgan Pendragon as a friend."

Despite the fact that there were now many that held such a name, Camille hoped that the system would automatically select the one she held in mind. As the next moment arrived, she saw this was the case.

The next voice that spoke out did not belong to Camille.

"EH?"

Morgan stared at the box before her in complete disbelief. Within nothing short of a second, she felt her legs turn to figurative jelly and her vision flip on itself. So not only did her best dearest friend have the abilities of a video game character, but she was able to impart it on others? Namely someone such as herself, Morgan Pendragon?

"Wowsers." Morgana mumbled, smug. Her hands on her hips, Morgan was stilled with quite the high spirit.

Although she lacked the same grand ambitions Camille did, to say this wasn't a pleasure would be a lie. So while, Morgan doubted that she would ever get the whole bargain with all the other crazy stuff Camille showed her, she was still happy that she could be a apart of the journey.

So without much ado, Morgan hurriedly accepted the request.

"Invite Morgan Pendragon to party."

Morgan hurriedly accepted another request.

"Party menu and friend list."

Two distinct boxes manifested before Camille.

"Well, well, well. Ain't this quite the discovery, so, how do you feel, Morgan?"

"Excited and nervous! Y-yes, a mixture of both, it would seem..."

The two exchanged their stances on the matter, as Camille wrapped her left arm around her friend and gestured to the menus with her right. Were it not for the fact that their eyes were leveled, their expressions might've been applicable to the audience of a meteor shower. With eyes that lit up with wonderous and childlike joy and bodies that emboldened in awe before grand displays of nature, it was magical, to say the least.

Morgan, who now had more than ample amounts of time to take it all in, noticed one quaint detail. A small series of letters that formed the words 'First Venture' within the quest menu, she pondered over what it was. Then, without any clue, she chose to simply ask her friend.

"Mind if I ask what that other quest is about?" Maybe because the whole idea of a real life gamer ability seemed more probable, or maybe because she now was no longer worried over her friend, Morgan managed to say those words without even a hint of introversion. Camille, who was pleased with this development, felt the obligation to answer her question.

"Sure." Camille opened her mouth to explain. Then before, she could even begin, decided against it. Instead, she lifted the corner of her lips lifted in a shrewd manner, and chose to move the conversation elsewhere. "Actually, why don't you just let me show you?"

The shrewd woman declared her intentions with downcast eyes. Then with one tap of her fingers, laid the truth bare.

With 'First Venture' selected, Morgan's eyes traced the necessary objective that needed to be fulfilled.

"Interesting." Morgan uttered, none the wiser at what 'defeat' entailed.

Meanwhile, that friend of hers, had. Badump. Camille's heart was pumping with blood. At a greater rhythm, tempo and speed at before, her breathing came in the form of ragged spurts of cold air. More indicative of her intention though, was the glint in her eyes. Compared to Morgan who held those of a mere lamb, Camille's were that of a predator. An unnatural phenomenon not found in day to day life, there was no mistaking its meaning.

"As they say, kill two birds with one stone right?" Those words were like the slithering hiss of a snake. Innocent in nature, it took a moment for Morgan to understand the double entendre behind it

But even so, Morgan could not object. Even without her ability, Camille was far more than a match for her. And not only that, but there was nowhere to run either. With one arm wrapped around Morgan's tender neck, and the other free to do whatever she wished, it was far too simple. Destruction being her weapon, her friend's existence was both in her figurative and literal hands. Then, the next thing to do was clear. Given the hasty nature of Camille, there was no reason to delay it any further. The sooner she got the ability, the more power she would get. Without the will to do anything, all Morgan could do, was to gulp in supposed suspense. To finish this quest, all Camille would have to do would be t-

"Hehe, come on Camille. Don't try to scare me like that."

A dissonant line shattered the whole ambience. Only to then completely and utterly grind the ambience into dust, Morgan chuckled at the whole affair. From Camille's forced and exasperated breathing, combined with the slight tension in her arm, and that glare in her eye, there was no doubt about it. Were it any one else in her position, Morgan had no doubt they would be scared shitless. But, Morgan wasn't just anyone else. The bond between the two of them, ran far deeper then just that.

Joining in on the fun, the presumably hostile woman dropped her expression. Shifted to one of a exuberant grin, there was no longer any need to keep the facade up. Realizing her prank had failed, she nonetheless relished in its attempt. Now that there was no longer any need to hold herself back, Camille had a cathartic laugh to herself.

Resonant and powerful, it echoed throughout the whole apartment.

"Jeez. Well, you can't blame me for trying." Camille proclaimed, a few final spurts of giggles still lodged in her throat.

"I know you far too well to even consider that you'd attack little old me." Morgan declared with a smile. Acknowledging her lithe and uncombative self, she was an irrevocable 'non-combatant' in the eyes of the domineering Camille.

"Yeah, only an inferior gamer fights dishonorably, am I right?" Camille said with a grin.

Enough to stimulate them both, the duo then shared some mutual hearty joy. Emitting clear laughter and even a few tears of glee, they relished in each other's company. The sentence Camille uttered just a moment ago was more then enough to make them relive nostalgic days of yore. Ah, those were the times. When Camille insisted on fighting one on one in duels, ever so fixated on gaining what she assumed to be a 'proper victory' even at the expense of success. Frustrated at having to gang up on enemies, or rely on uncouth tactics, it seemed the morals behind the fight mattered as much as the fight itself. And not only was she like this in games, but she was even the same in real life too. All the more comedic, it only helped to stoke the flames of their merriment.

"After how angry she made you, I still couldn't believe that you even gave her a few days to recover just cause she had a fractured hand." Morgan recounted.

"Well yeah, I mean, where's the satisfaction in that?" Camille replied, understanding who Morgan was referring to. "Trust me when I say that beating the shit out of that bitch, her body intact and all, was ten times better."

They discussed the brutal memory of the fight as casually as one would the weather. Immersed in the moment, Camille even went on to mime a few of the punches and kicks she did, all while imitating her former enemy's tone in delightfully cartoonish manner. Captivated by her gestures, Morgan laughed even more. Only after many minutes had passed, did they finally compose themselves. In the aftermath of their initial elation, the two shared a moment of silence. A warm smile on Morgan's face, she stared with peaceful content at her best friend.

"I'm really happy Camille." Flushed, Morgan's face turned to the side. If there existed such a thing as true happiness, she had found it here. "You're still the same as ever."