And so, our group of two became a group of three for the day. While Ace was resummoning their golems, Ka’Moni and I chatted. I was curious why she was on her own. I would have thought that she would have been grouped up with others on the cheerleading squad, and told her so.
“It’s … complicated,” she said. “Yeah, the squad does a lot together, but that’s all squad stuff. Practice, performances, team-building exercises, you know. I’d be like a third wheel on a motorbike if we hung out socially, though. Too much relationship drama, anyway.”
“Oh?” I asked.
“Yep,” she said without clarifying further. I didn’t press it. “Anyway, they’re all paired up -- they’ve all got boyfriends, except Beth and Liv, and I’d really be a third wheel there.”
Bethany and Olivia were both seniors and not part of my social circle, but pretty much everyone in school knew them and their plans. They were homecoming queen and queen this year, the first for our small school. They, in the way small-town-sweethearts are, were very much in love and very much already planning their future together. Neither intended on going to college. Bethany would work full-time at her parents’ bed-and-breakfast which she would eventually inherit, and Olivia would be a stay-at-home wife and artist.
I had my doubts, but Mom and Dad were all the proof I needed that highschool sweethearts could make a longer-term relationship work. Nevertheless, it really wasn’t any of my business.
“Well,” I offered, “if you don’t have other plans, and the rest of the group doesn’t mind, you’d be welcome to group with us. We’re a little short on close-range fighters, so you’d fit right in.”
“Sounds like a plan! Hurray for teamwork!” she exclaimed, and gave me a dazzling smile -- which, from an Orc, was actually a bit intimidating. “Who’ve you got?”
* * *
The rest of the cross-town journey was uneventful, but adding another person to the cavalcade meant progressing at a walking pace, so Daybreak Gleaming was put away -- you don’t really sheathe a unicorn, even if she technically was a weapon. Consequently, we didn’t encounter any other jealous players trying to steal her.
We passed a couple inns, and strangely enough, a small apple orchard, but most of the buildings on the avenue had the feel of administrative buildings, courthouses, guildhalls, temples, and the like. However, none of them seemed to be in use. Were they all relegated for future player use?
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
As we got closer to the plaza, foot traffic picked up. There were more players, but also more NPCs, some running stalls and others apparently travelling from stall to stall. There were even a few guards on patrol -- where were they earlier? Never a cop around when you need them.
“Oh! Let’s stop over here,” Ka’Moni said, grabbing Ace’s arm and dragging them toward a brightly-canopied stall with cotton candy on display. “We haven’t had that celebratory snack, yet!”
I probably would have been dragged along, too -- if size had allowed. Still, I flew alongside the exuberant orc and somewhat uncomfortable amalthean. The two almost looked like a couple at a carnival, which was probably why Ace seemed uncomfortable -- too young to date and, from their name, apparently not interested in dating anyway.
Ace shot me a glance, and I intervened.
“Ka’Moni,” I laughed, “you’re making Ace uncomfortable. They’re not used to being dragged by an energetic orc. Besides, we don’t have any money to buy snacks with.”
“Oh, sorry!” She dropped Ace’s arm. “I just wanted to make sure you all didn’t get left behind when I came over here. You can fly over people’s heads, but Ace cannot. You’d get lost in the shuffle.”
Given that both Ace and Ka’Moni were head-and-shoulders taller than almost everyone around and that while foot traffic had picked up, it still wasn’t a crowd …
> Hey, Monica, just so you know … Ace is only 13.
>> Huh? What? You think I’m flirting?
She turned to glare at me and I shrugged.
> Whether I do or not, I think Ace thinks you are.
“Ace, I’m sorry. I’m a people person and I tend to get a bit up close and personal. If Rie were taller and walking, I’d’ve grabbed her arm, too. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I guess. It’s not you. I just …” Ace shrugged. “No harm, no foul, I guess.”
“So, about the snacks,” I interrupted, saving Ace from the difficulty they were having with the apology, too. “Things usually cost money ….”
“Unless you bought yourself some new equipment, you should have started with a few coins. And probably you got some drops from those stupid raiders, earlier. I did.”
“But we didn’t loot them,” Ace said, back on firmer footing.
“You don’t have to,” Ka’Moni said, “the game does that for you. I didn’t know it did it for PvP, but I have four more coins that I did before, so they had to have come from somewhere.”
I checked my inventory and immediately felt like an idiot. All those rats we killed yesterday and that I thought gave no loot because they were in a training instance … Piles of rat fur, teeth, claws, and other sundry body parts. Small piles, granted, but there they were. Plus twenty-four small wooden coins.
“Well, I guess I’m buying, then.” I said.