The Greenbriar was Disorder’s regular tavern. If they weren’t eating or drinking in the guild hall, at least a couple of them ate at the tavern most days. It also had the benefit of being just a couple of minutes away, the closest tavern by far.

Ethan wasn’t surprised to see it was mostly empty when he walked in, the in game clock read 1130. He was still early for lunch, and with the raid clan preparing to begin their assault on the 26th floor dungeon, most of them would be at the clan hall.

A few players and NPCs sat at tables, with two people at the bar. Tara, the owner of the establishment was behind the counter chatting with a man in a white cloak who had his back to Ethan. As he approached he could hear snippets of conversation.

“Hey hey. It’s just like before, I’m still me. I just look different.” The man was in the middle of a conversation with a very skeptical looking Tara.

I thought he was still several hours out? Ethan took the seat next to who he now realized was Miguel, as Tara was shaking her head at him and walking away.

“Man, I don’t know why you keep doing this.” Ethan put his hand on his friends shoulder as Miguel lowered his head onto the bar top.

“It doesn’t ever get easier.” His voice was muffled against the counter. “But, you know, she’ll realize it’s me.”

Ethan rubbed his shoulders in sympathy.

Miguel and Tara had been in a relationship for a while. It was hard with him being a player and her an NPC, any time he died she didn’t recognize him after he respawned. Luckily it hadn’t happened recently so he hadn’t had to go through the process in a while, but now he was starting over again it looked like.

“What are you going to do?” Ethan had dallied with a couple NPCs in the past, nothing serious, but it also had left him feeling like he was using them.

“Be patient. It’s the only thing I can do.” Miguel picked his head off the counter. “I’ll remind her of things only me and her have shared, memories of us together or something she’s told only me. Like you said, she usually comes around in a day or two.”

Ethan wasn’t sure what to say as a response so he simply nodded and knocked him knuckles on the counter, waving to get Tara’s attention.

“You new to town?” She looked at Miguel out of the corner of her eye while addressing Ethan. “What can I get you?”

“Umm.. yeah. I’ll have whatever you’re serving for lunch and just a water.” In that moment, Ethan felt a fraction of what Miguel must have been going through. His entire group were regulars, and she frequently had spent time with all of them from her relationship with Miguel.

Tara nodded at him, poured his drink and disappeared back into the kitchen area to retrieve his food.

Miguel had returned his head to the countertop.

“It’ll be okay buddy.” Ethan rubbed his shoulders again.

Miguel sat up again and let out a long sigh.

“I know.” He looked thoughtful at the kitchen door. “But you know what the worst part is? If she doesn’t believe that I’m really me, if I can’t remind her of what we had, she won’t ever know why I disappeared. She’ll know I was here one day, and gone the next. She’ll think I abandoned her.” He turned to look at Ethan.

“And if you, or David or Leah were to go tell her that I’d died, then she’d hate this me,” he gestured at his face and body, “for ‘pretending’ to be her Miguel.”

Tara returned with Ethan’s meal, still slightly scowling at Miguel as she dropped it off. Ethan thanked her as he walked away.

Half a roasted chicken over lentils and Brussels sprouts sat in front of him. He snickered to himself, this was a dish he’d shown her.

Little funny that she can’t remember Miguel or the rest of us, but she’s serving my food.

“Hey I thought you said you were still a ways out?” Ethan asked between bites of chicken. “You make better time than you thought?”

“I was hoping I’d be able to convince Tara easier and have some time with her.” Miguel blushed and then frowned. “That worked out so well...”

“Dude, go back to the guild hall.” Ethan laid down his fork and looked at his depressed friend. “You’re not doing yourself any favors right now.”

Miguel started to interrupt him.

“No, I’m serious. Look at this from her perspective. Essentially, you just told her the man she knew was dead, but not really. That’s a lot for an NPC to digest, they’re set up to ignore what is common to us. Give her a little time and space, we’re going to be around Startesgarde for a few days.” He placed his hand on Miguel’s shoulder, turning him so they were facing. “You knew the risks and you’ve done this before. It’ll work out. I promise.”

Miguel looked thoughtful for a second before responding.

“Thanks man. You’re right.” He stood up and retrieved his staff that Ethan had missed and was leaning on the bar next to him. “I’m really glad you’re here with me. I don’t know how I’d get through this without you.”

Ethan knew it wasn’t just the current Tara situation he was talking about, all of them relied on each other while trapped in the Tower. He felt the same way. Miguel, David, Leah, Tae-Won, Sam, even Daniel. If it weren’t for them, Ethan wasn’t sure how he’d survive here.

“Will you just.. just tell her...” He started as he turned to the door before Ethan interrupted him.

“No. I’m not telling her anything. She needs to process what she’s feeling.” He kept his face firm to dissuade Miguel from asking anything else.

Miguel just nodded at him, a look of resignation in his eyes as he left the tavern.

Ethan had barely begun eating again before Tara returned.

“Everything good?” She asked him.

“Yeah, could use a little salt though.” He said habitually. It had become a running joke between them. Anything she made, especially if he was one of his recipes, he told her needed salt. Belatedly he realized she probably wouldn’t recognize the joke and take offense.

“I mean, it was great. I’ll definitely be coming back here in the future to eat.” He felt his ears burn with embarrassment.

“Oh, yeah, no. It’s okay.” She looked confused for a minute. Ethan could have been wrong, but he hoped that memory reminded her of his group and Miguel. “Glad you liked it. Can I get you anything else?”

“No, I’m good actually.” He stood up, the awkwardness of the situation had cost him the rest of his appetite.

She studied him for a moment.

“Can I ask you a strange question?” Tara looked concerned and confused as she nervously looked down and played with her fingers.

He nodded gently and slowly.

“That guy you were talking to, do you know him?” She was hesitant in her tone, like she herself couldn’t believe what she was about to ask him.

He nodded again so she’d continue.

“Did he...did he tell you what he told me?” She was obviously very shaken by Miguel’s news, but it spoke depths that she wanted to ask a stranger about it.

“He did.” Ethan replied solemnly, catching her gaze.

“And is it... was he... was it... was it true?” Small tears had formed in the corners of her eyes and she spoke only barely above a whisper. He’d told Miguel he wouldn’t say anything to her, but she approached him. He couldn’t just sit silently and not help his friend.

“Yeah.” Ethan’s voice was equally low. “Yeah, it’s true Tara.”

“And Miguel...?”

“So I don’t know exactly what he said,” he paused. Explaining the cycle players went though shouldn’t have even been something NPCs could even understand at all. He wasn’t sure what Miguel had told her, but the full truth wasn’t possible.

She looked sadder again.

“But,” he continued, “but I can tell you, that that is Miguel. He looks different than last time we were all here together, but it’s still him. “

She looked at him in shock, that she would have known him before too hadn’t occurred to her yet.

“And you...?”

“Yes, you know me too. Me and my friends all changed how we look, but you know all of us.” He pointed to his half eaten chicken. “I taught you to cook that chicken dish a couple of months back. And a meatloaf with veal and a few more.”

“Et..Ethan?” She was hesitant, if this wasn’t who she hoped it was, then it was just another doorway to pain for her.

“Yeah. It’s me.” He continued quickly, not wanting to lose her at this moment for Miguel’s sake. “And that really was Miguel. And tonight, Leah and David and everyone else will be back with us for dinner.”

The tears that had built up rolled down her face.

“When he came in and told me that...” she paused and sobbed quietly, “You promise me that was really my Miguel, that he’s not really going to walk through that door as I knew him in a minute or an hour and I’m not going to even know what’s going on?”

“I promise. That’s really him.” He leaned across the bar and reached for her hand. “And he loves you.”

Tara squeezed his hand and let go.

“Thank you.” She wiped her nose and the tears from her face, trying to compose herself. “You’ll all be back tonight?”

"Even Daniel.” He smiled at her. “I’m actually heading home to meet up with all of them. I’m sure everyone will want to come see you tonight.”

She smiled back at him.

“Thank you Ethan.” And she hurried back to the kitchen, still wiping her face.