A good half hour of arguing between River, and Mr. Depressed ensued. I snuck a look around seeing both Aiden, and Katie next to me watching the show. A smell of popcorn wafted towards us. We all did a slow turn towards the smell. There was Erica eating popcorn sitting on a tree stump. She was looking very comfortable enjoying the drama. We all dashed over to sit together, fighting over a hand full.

While riveted to the two coming just inches from fighting. River was particularly good at insinuating short jokes, while never actually saying so about the other. We Ohh'ed, we laughed. It was a surprising dose of our old lives. After a particularly good comeback we all started shouting “Jerry, Jerry, Jerry…”. Unfortunately this seamed to catch their attention. And just like that our fun was over.

I turned to Erica asking. “Where did you get the popcorn?” She eyed me for a second than replied. “The truck.” I gave her the stink eye. “You just popped popcorn in the truck?” She gave me an exasperated look. “No the popcorn seeds were in the truck. Keith has a furnace in there. When you went to start your pretty woman dress up phase. I wanted some popcorn to throw at you. When you came out looking hideous.” I pulled back slowly, “What do you mean when?” She looked me over. “Have you seen many guys wearing robes?”

I thought back, it caused me to cringe. Other than movies the only ones who wear full robes were priests. Which technically I was one now. “Well I am a priest now..no little alter boy jokes.” I stood up walking over to the two gentlemen in the booth. “You two can argue all you want later. We all need starting gear, so we can survive.” They looked around each other. A few seconds later they both waved me inside. As I stepped fully inside, almost immediately I felt a strange vibration. It pulsed all over my whole body. I darted my head back, and forth trying to find its source. Both men just stood there waiting not saying a word. Fifteen seconds later the vibration stopped. “Much better, that should make you feel better, Yes?” I had no idea what River was talking about.

“What do you mean?” He developed a confused look. “The automatic measurement magic. Didn’t it make you feel better?” I blinked. “No, it actually felt very strange.” River shrugged saying. “Well each to their own. Now that you have had….every… inch…measured. We can get some proper clothes around you.” Oh great the creep factor was being brought back up again. He twirled a multi-colored fabric around that would have looked great on a parrot. '“You must try this design, it matches your eyes, hair, and skin tone all at once.”

I took a step away. “Umm nope, not gonna happen. I want subdued colors. I’ll be the guy in the background healing my friends. I don’t want to stick out.” The horror on Rivers fave said volumes. I turned to look for Mr. Depressed. As I turned I realized he was about three inches away from my face. I jerked back by reflex. “Holy shit!!” I took a couple of breaths staring at him. He was standing on a stool almost at eye level. How he had gotten so close? While also being unnoticeable? It was almost as creepy as River.

As I settled my breathing, I noticed he had a simple white robe in his hand. “This is standard priestly robes. Simple yet effective.” His voice still made me slightly feel sorry for him. But he had what I needed. “How much?” I asked wondering how I would be able to afford anything. He smiled at me. “You built this location. You, and your team get free starter gear. After that you will need coins. Or trade loot of equal value.” I sighed at least one issue sorted out. I started to look around for a changing room. When I didn’t see one around I hesitantly asked. “Umm where do I go to put this on?” Both of their smiles grew wider for a second. “Aww mannn.”

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Red faced I walked out of the general store. The robes fit, they improved my spell casting speed. Or so I was told. The less said about the embarrassing episode in the shop the better. I finally looked the part of an adventurer. I explained our good fortune to my three friends, advising them all to enter to gear up. I said I would go grab Keith to get him geared up. But that they should go in now. I was not going to be the only one who had an embarrassing day today.

I walked into the smithy hearing the ting, ting, ting of Keith doing something in there. I opened the door immediately overwhelmed by the heat. I staggered back feeling the sweat instantly form. I had no idea how Keith could survive in there. I yelled in. “Keith are you alive in there?” The sounds stopped. Keith walked out looking cool as a cucumber. “Whats with all the racket?” As his eyes adjusted he looked me up, and down. “Wow dude nice dress.” I sighed “Its a robe, no need to embarrass me more, ok?” He shrugged smiling. “You get this one, i’ll go easy on you. But I will find a way to cause your skirt to blow up. Give you a Marilyn Monroe moment.” I rolled my eyes. “Only you would want me to have my skirt fly, up so you could check out my ass.” I said as I turned away. “It is a nice ass.” He added.

Ignoring him as i continued outside. “The rest of the group is getting free starter gear. I came to get you, so you could get yours. Afterwards we need to head out. We need to grind out levels.” We both walked towards the general store. We turned the corner to see two leather clad babes with a leg each up on the tree stump. They were facing away, chatting to each other. So we just froze. Now neither of us are toxic men. But we did enjoy the glorious sight, of what we were seeing at the moment. I whispered to Keith. “How come leather looks so good on woman?” He whispered back. “Cause we are males, we don’t think with the big head, when we see things like this.” I nodded.

Aiden came around the corner wearing a set of red robes, almost the same style as mine. He turned to look our way. Noticed us just standing there, then looked at the ladies. Looked back at us. Rolled his eyes, saying. “Oh good your back.” We scowled at him as the girls stood up to turn around towards us. They were in full body leather. It was skin tight, but didn’t look like it restricted their movements.

Erica shared a glance at Katie then gave us both a strange stare saying. "What were you too staring at just now?" We were busted I knew it, but before I could start apologizing, Keith came to the rescue saying. "We came around the corner and saw a huge bug eyed monster staring at us, we both froze in the hopes it's eyesight was based on movement like the T-Rex." Erica's stare became somewhat different looking directly at Keith saying. "And which of those two bug eyes were you staring at husband of mine?" He smirked back leaned back got a strange learing look to his face. Loudly stating "Why the left one of course it had a particularly fetching wiggle." Erica's stare took on a particularly strong ownership quality to it stating. "That's good, keep it that way."

I was impressed Keith was great at these sorts of things. I was the typical two days later figuring out the great flirting comeback lines guy, which then regretted not saying it at the time. I glanced at both of their outfits impressed even more.

Erica’s was a dark brown. It was mixed with blacks, and mottled blues. It was a very subtle type of camouflage. While Katie’s was in shades of brown, and green. I’m guessing to help blend into the woods. Keith walked around Erica staring intently. Than he slapped her on the ass. “Now that’s a look I can get into. Badass baby.”

He then turned to the creepy twins, to get his gear. I walked up saying. “You all look great, we finally look the part. After Keith gets out, we need to scout the perimeter of the area. I have been told there will already be monsters around. The farther out we go, the stronger they will be.”

Keith walked out in what looked like a light chain mail suit, leather pants. A funky looking half leather, half metal helm. I looked him up, and down. “Well it’s better than jeans I guess. You should be able to make your own gear here soon. But we need to grind a bit.” He nodded saying. “Let’s do this.”