Expression: the production of something, especially by pressing or squeezing it out

POV - Tad

“So is there a time limit on how long I can stay in this zone?”

Just then we entered the bathroom complex. It was significantly more than I expected. More everything. The small unassuming door opened out into a spacious double or even triple height room which was filled with the sound of running water and bird song. Sourceless ambient light flooded the room. Three streams of water gushed in at a high level from somewhere directly behind me, one either side and one running down in the centre carved in a narrow channel in the floor.

This channel was then exposed as the floor stepped down either side until it was flowing along a raised aqueduct about one metre above the ground. Regularly spaced spigots spaced out either side had randomly been left open allowing the water to cascade down into shallow scalloped bowls which in turn overtopped into a wider shallow channel below and running parallel under the domed arches of the elevated flow. On either side of the room the water flowed in behind a series of doorway’d cubicles inset in a tree’d wall of foliage.

And the entire room was entirely vacant, despite being large enough to comfortably fit at least 50 people in the central courtyard. It was then I noticed the sound of reasonably loud and somewhat discordant singing. What it lacked in expertise it made up in cheerfulness. I located the source from a closed door on my left about halfway down where steam wafted out amongst the boughs of the trees. Great, there was heated water too, and from the amount of steam produced it was decent heat as well.

Nige needlessly informed me.

Excellent. I forthwith expedited my expression, unburdening myself to the sound of burbling waters.

Returning to the main room I fiddled with the spigots and discovered not only crisp crystal clear water but also that turning the spigot to the right heated the water nicely as well. Luxury. Once I finished washing my hands I circled to the far end where the elevated channel dropped back into the floor. I was going to check out the bathing facilities while I was here.

Just as I rounded the basin a previously closed door opened and my involuntary serenader stepped out.

Okay, this was a bit different. The guy was massive. Clearly he had themed himself on a Barbarian build. If I hadn’t heard him singing so joyfully just moments ago I would have been completely intimidated. He too was taken back with a sort of uncharacteristic hop-step back.

“Oh! I, ahh, didn’t realise anyone else was here,” he quasi-apologized. “Ummmh, sorry for the sing…”

I stopped him mid word just in lifting my hand. “Hey, no worries. Sing all you want. Doesn’t disturb me at all. In fact I was just wondering where everyone else was.”

He looked around the obviously empty room as if surprised by its lack of patronage. “Yeah, um people have, like moved on mostly…” he trailed off uncertainly. “They…ay” and this time he trailed off with more certainty. He had caught sight of Nige.

“Hey,” he stage-whispered. Somehow this carried more clearly than his previous enunciations. “Hey, that’s a Wisp!”

I winced.

“Is it your wisp? Mine disappeared as soon as I hit Level 1. If it isn't, we should catch it. They are full of good ideas and stuff.”

I was bemused. He was trying to creep along the basin in a sort of stumbling sidle. Moving one way while facing another. It was supremely ineffective.

“Yes, that’s my minion” I decided to end the somewhat surprising spectacle. He stopped and slumped.

“Blast” he sighed “I need one and mine's gone!” He seemed to dissolve in despondency. A completely different picture to the cheerful discordancy of a moment ago.

I looked more intently at him. His gear was in good nick even though it looked well used. He wore thick leather pants with stout hobnailed boots. A wide belt crossed his chest and around his waist with a massive spiked hammer thrust through a loop at his side. His face was wide and guileless with a plaited headband holding his shoulder length hair back off his face.

[Ding] [Ding]

Two notifications quietly alerted me to some achievement.

> >

>NAME:

Nigel ‘The Indomcible’

Thomson

>SPECIES:

Human

[Assign skill to view more and unlock deeper insight]

Well you wouldn’t even read about it. Three Nigels. I couldn’t believe it myself. Nigel was by no means a popular name. Yet here we were. I snapped out of my reverie. Nigel The Indomcible did not seem to have noticed either my rude stare or my zoning out as I accessed my blue boxes.

Now it was my turn to whisper to Nige, who was still up on the entry podium overlooking the room.

“Psst Nige!”

I look again at Nigel T.I.T. Nope, he was not paying me any attention.

“I can’t see his level. Is it worth slotting ‘Inspect’? I don’t want to fill up all my slots with dead-end skills” I breathed to him.

“So has he received a Title or is this a self selected moniker?” I was slightly entertained by this mash-up of a word.

I literally could feel Nige’s amusement.

Arrgghhh! “So if someone inspects me they would see something similarly juvenile?”

Yep, that convinced me too. I slotted the Skill.

>NAME:

Nigel ‘The Indomcible’

Thomson

>SPECIES:

Human

>LVL: ?

[Improve proficiency to view more and unlock deeper insight]

Well, that was helpful. Not! I was decidedly underwhelmed.

“Hey man” I sought Nigel the Barbarian’s attention. “I’m Tad and I’m pretty new around here.” I put a welcoming smile on my dial and gestured for him to respond. Perhaps I was being naive by trusting he was a good guy. I knew for sure that if I hadn’t previously heard him singing in the shower I would be pretty leary of him simply because of his size. However, he had a cool name, misspelt though its assertion was, and this also played a somewhat illogical role in my deducing that he was not likely to be a threat to me.

He started slightly then shrugged and turned to face me fully. “I’m Nigel Thomson and I’ve been here a while now.”

I smiled “Good to meet you. I was getting slightly worried that there was no one else up here in the dorm and that I was going to be on my lonesome while I get established. How long have you been here?” I was interested to know.

He scuffed his foot, not looking at me. “I’ve been here for 10 years or so now I guess.” Oh! That means he probably was from a previous tranche. This was somewhat surprising given that Nige had told me regarding level progression. That would explain why I couldn’t see his level though. He had been here for ages. I was guessing he too was alone and that maybe it was not by choice.

“How do you feel about some company for a little while? Would you like to kick around with me as I get my act together?” I got the feeling that Nigel T. B. was not expecting this as his face brightened.

“Sure Tad, I am happy to help. I know lots of good stuff and places and I can help you grow strong too.”

I was not quite so sure I would be taking Nigel Indom’s advice though. I got the feeling his build was slightly, or more than slightly skewed. But just having someone to talk to would be a great boon.

“What? You can read my thoughts?”

“Huh? No I can’t!” Barbarian Nigel was totally confused.

Minion Nige was defensive.

“Oops. Sorry Nigel. I wasn’t accusing you or anything. I was just thinking how helpful that would be.”

[Ding]

[Ding]

> >

Fantastic! And I would need to work out what to call ‘Nigel the Indomicble Barbarian Thomson’ that was less of a mouthful so I don't get totally confused with Nige the Minion all the time.