The "Becoming Monsters" LitRPG setting was originally created by AiLoves, and is now managed by OtterlyMindblowing.
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Katrina didn't sleep well the following day. She tossed and turned, even woke up a few times as rush hour traffic loudly announced its presence. In the end, she rose before her alarm went off, while the last traces of sunlight were still lingering outside. Careful to avoid the tiny sunbeams that managed to slip through her blackout curtains, she walked to the kitchen and grabbed another pouch of blood. The rush of energy helped to alleviate her exhaustion somewhat, and when she collapsed onto her living room couch, she sighed heavily. In front of her, sitting delicately on the floor next to her guitar, was a cherry blossom petal.
Alicia.
She couldn't stop thinking about last night. She hadn't been prepared to meet anyone, and had only felt comfortable exploring that neighborhood because she thought it was abandoned. Going downtown had stressed her out, and she hated that she'd been so short with the Dryad.
It didn't help that she hadn't had a real conversation in ages. She did her best to stay cordial with Dennis, but staying friendly with him was, in part, a survival tactic. Plus, the magically reinforced glass that separated them made it easier to control herself. Other than the clinic, she occasionally had very short conversations with her boss, but they were always about work, and she never lingered for longer than she needed to.
In any other situation, she would have welcomed being perceived as rude and standoffish. It was better for people to avoid her, for their own safety. Once she'd figured out that it was safe to be around Alicia, however, she had felt awful. Rather than a necessary safety tactic, her behavior now felt pointlessly callous.
I have to apologize to her, it's the right thing to do.
She checked her phone and confirmed that the sun had just finished setting. If she were going to make another trip out to the suburbs, it would be best to do so as early as possible. Back in her bedroom, she threw together a halfway respectable outfit, then moved to the bathroom to make sure she didn't look like a slob.
Next, Katrina ran to her kitchen, rummaging through some cabinets before pulling out a small bag. It had been designed to look like any other semi-fashionable purse, but it was actually meant to hold a single pouch of blood, as well as a few personal effects. She'd originally bought it when she thought the blood shortage was temporary, and had hoped that it would give her a way to bring blood with if she ever started delving. She closed the blood pouch she'd been nursing and tucked it inside the purse, then did the same with her phone and her keys.
Last, she packed up her guitar, knowing it would be the best way to show her apology was genuine. Once she was ready, she strapped her guitar case to her back and jumped out of her window. Locking it behind her, she began the flight back to Alicia's neighborhood.
As she flew, the wind whipping around her, she hoped that Alicia wasn't an early bird. The Dryad had certainly seemed eager to talk last night, but she didn't want her constant interruptions to be a nuisance.
What am I hoping for? Is this just an apology?
Katrina watched the city slowly transition to suburbs as she flew, unsure how to answer her own question. What would happen after she apologized? Obviously she didn't want to keep the Dryad up, robbing her of sleep, but she also couldn't deny that Alicia had seemed unusually excited by her presence. Katrina had initially assumed this was because of her stats; one of the many changes the System had implemented was that Charisma now dictated many aspects of one's physical appearance. Her high Charisma score meant that her curves were more pronounced, her breasts were fuller, and her skin was flawless.
I shouldn't assume anything. She could be straight, or ace! She could just as easily be excited to have a visitor, I'll bet her neighborhood doesn't see a lot of traffic. I'll just say what I need to say, and if we happen to get to know each other, great.
After a fair amount of flying, Katrina finally saw the massive cherry blossom in the distance. She caught herself smiling, remembering how peaceful it had been last night. If things went well, she definitely wouldn't mind coming here more often. Once she was closer, underneath the canopy, flower petals began landing on her. She smirked, grabbing a larger one and tucking it behind her ear.
She didn't see Alicia anywhere, and decided to land a few dozen feet away from the tree. Last time, the Dryad had emerged from the trunk itself, so maybe she slept inside the tree? With no way to know, she figured she may as well recreate what had happened last night.
Once her guitar was ready, she flew to the perch she'd picked last night, and began playing a soft melody. She could feel tension in her fingers as she played, nervous about what might happen. With a deep breath, she closed her eyes, and did her best to lose herself in the music.
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It was a strange sensation, waking to live music. Not only had music been largely absent from Alicia's life, but the soft guitar melody echoing through her branches was quite different than the music she'd previously enjoyed as a Human. She could also feel the vibrations of the guitar, they reverberated through her tree and grew dangerously close to tickling her. Thankfully, she held her composure, and floated through her trunk until she found the source of the music.
She almost couldn't believe it, but Katrina had returned.
The Vampire was sitting on the same branch she'd chosen last night, though her posture had changed. She now held a guitar in her lap, and her fingers expertly danced across the strings as she played a peaceful melody. Her eyes were closed, though her head was moving in time with the music.
Alicia stayed perfectly still, her arms folded in front of her on the edge of the trunk, her head resting on them. She listened raptly, completely in awe of the musician in front of her. She'd heard that Bards were skilled, but seeing one in person was simply breathtaking.
In time, the music slowed, and with one final chord, the song ended. Katrina froze, letting the final notes echo through the tree, before finally opening her eyes. Alicia felt her flinch slightly, though she was definitely less surprised than last night. The girls looked at each other for a moment, and this time it was the Vampire that broke the silence.
"Alicia! It's, um, good to see you again!" she said nervously.
"You came back," Alicia whispered, "I wasn't sure you would."
"Right, well, about that." Katrina cleared her throat. "Yesterday was... well, let's just say it was a rough day. I don't do well around people and... actually, that doesn't matter. I'm here because I want to apologize for how I acted last night."
"Apologize? For what?"
Katrina seemed surprised by the question. "You seemed rather eager to have a conversation, and I kept shutting you down. Plus, the instant I saw a chance to leave, I took it, which was also pretty rude."
"I didn't think you were rude at all! I enjoyed our conversation!" Alicia protested.
The Vampire paused, then chuckled quietly. "I don't think I did much conversing, honestly, but I appreciate the sentiment. Still, I'm sorry for how I acted, Alicia, and I wanted to make it up to you." She gestured at her guitar, then quietly started playing another song while the conversation continued.
"Apology accepted, Katrina the Vampire! I think it's a really sweet gesture." Alicia caught herself blushing and hid her cheeks behind her hands slightly. "So... can I ask why yesterday was rough? I'll gladly talk about something else if not!"
