“WAIT”
I stop walking as I hear the quite desperate voice call out behind me
“Cindy…” Shaking my head incredulously I continue walking
“Are you still hell bent on walking down that path?”
I stop once again and this time turn around to see Cindy with disheveled hair looking at me with sorrowful eyes.
“Yes, without a doubt”
‘T-then…I-I will train you!”
…
..
.
“Eh? No offense but aren’t you a housewife?”
“Well yes I am…But I know a thing or two”
“Riiight…”
“Don’t be like that” She wags her finger from half a street away.
“Jeez, ok ok. If you really want to you can train me…I guess”
Cindy beams at me before skipping away
“Wait Cindy! Give me a day”
“OK I’LL SEE YOU IN 2 DAYS”
With that, I head to Thalias…(well going back to Cindy’s so soon will be a bit strange).
Opening the door, I see Thalia is mixing a couple of things with her back turned.
“Hey there Kal”
*Shiver*
HOW DOES SHE KNOW IT’S ME?!
“Uh…hey?”
“It’s been a while…did you miss me?” She turns around and looks at me coyly.
Oddly enough her fur clothing is torn up quite a bit more since she last wore it barely covering the necessities
*Thump*
Ah nonono don’t you dare Kal!
“I-I’m tired. Can I sleep in your bed?”
Her mischievous smile turns off as she notices that I am pretty much beat.
“Hop right in. I promise I won’t touch you. It’s only fun when you squirm”
I’m not sure I should be thankful or feel scared…
“Uh thanks…”
Heading to her bed I don’t bother to unequip my things as I lay down and log off
Taking off the headset I stifle a long yawn before heading off to the shower.
I take a full 20 minutes to properly clean and scrub my entire body (wincing slightly at my bruised face, maybe I shouldn’t have taken those bandages off).
Getting out the shower I spend a good 10 minutes brushing my hair, putting on some good cologne and wash my teeth. Also I shave this sad stubble of mine(the smoother the better in my opinion).
Walking quickly to my room I open up my bed (Yes I have one of those, custom made), take out some black jeans and a red collared V-neck. I also take out some fingerless black cloth gloves and put on my black bike boots (which make me look about 10 cm taller due to the heels, such a good buy).
Putting everything on I check myself out in the mirror; my usual nerdy, school-like look has completely vanished with my quite cool (I think it at least) choice of clothes and my combed back hair.
However I’m still somewhat recognizable due to my slightly off nose (broke it in a dodgeball session, one of those I know) and thick eyebrows.
All in all, if someone who knew me looked at me as we walked by they’d have a strong feeling they know me but aren’t 100% sure (women are not the only ones who can have a drastic change, although I didn’t put on any make-up).
I’m not the best looking guy but I’d still rate myself as a mid 6, though with these clothes I easily reach a 7.
Anyways, a good 35 minutes of getting ready I’m ready.
I check my phone to see its only 7:15.
With a good 45 minutes to spare I open up my window and start clambering down the pipe that runs down the wall.
Easily I make it down to the ground and with a soft landing I start sneaking towards the front.
Making it to Viper I open up the seat and take out my bike jacket, fake sunglasses, coloured concealer and a black makeup pencil.
Using the concealer to cover up the bruises and alter the color of my face to a yellowish tinge, I then use the black b pencil to create a sharper jawline as well as make my cheeks seem a lot bonier due to the contours. It still terrifies me how much someone can change with makeup.
Finally done, I put on my fake sunglasses (which look black but only darken the world a tiny bit) and my bike jacket.
My bike jacket is full black leather with Kevlar lining and shock padding, so it’s quite bulky along the shoulders and chest. I’m quite a small guy usually but the bike jacket makes me look a lot bigger.
In short, if I added studs here and there I’d look quite dangerous.
Satisfied with my look I start making my way down the street.
Reaching Missy’s two-storey house within 30 minutes I hide behind a tree as I peek towards the place. A light is on in her father’s inter-study room.
With that in mind I climb up the gate and drop into the garden executing a soft roll.
Crouched low I stealthily make my way over to the wall underneath the study. Sidling along the wall I make it to the back of the house. There is only one window on this side.
The window is firmly shut with curtains drawn. Guess I’m waiting.
Leaning back on one of the apple trees that are around, I wait and wait and wait…
Hmm, she looks like she’ll be a while.
Pushing off the tree I turn round facing it and do a quick run.
*Step step step push*
Backflipping I feel the grass whoosh past my head before I quickly spin and land on my feet lightly.
Wow, 3 steps…So doing it in game made me better IRL, but I felt it was a lot harder to do IRL then in game…maybe if I train myself IRL then I can get better in the game?
I mean the idea has never really properly registered with me because I’m a gamer, no need to move your body, just your hands, eyes and brain. However Virtual reality does factor in your own health.
Lucky I do dodgeball sessions every Monday and lunch runs too (also gymnastics but the place closed down a couple of months ago). They keep me decently fit.
Thinking about it, I survived jöt’s ice platform torture game due to having a decent amount of parkour, running, climbing and gymnastics skill. So if I improve myself IRL I should be able to do it better…
The thought is a good one but not the right time. Also I shouldn’t make too much noise.
Quickly listening I don’t hear any change in the house and I return to leaning.
A couple of minutes later (at 8:00 on the dot too, she’s always punctual) the window opens and out flies a goddess. Wait I meant Missy. Wait, no I’m right, it’s a goddess.
Anyways she jumps out the window totally carefree (no she isn’t committing suicide) and getting my act together I push off the tree and prepare my arms.
“Oomph”
She lands safely in my arms but I let out a small sound. She isn’t heavy but catching someone does take a small toll on your arms (thank god for Kevlar lining and shock padding).
“That’s one mistake” Eeek she heard…This isn’t good to make such a mistake already (at least I didn’t get one from my looks).
Yes, the entire reason why I’m dressed up like this is because it’s how Missy likes it (and it fits the situation I’ll soon be in). Thankfully I’ve checked all the boxes so no mistakes on appearance, phew.
Letting her off my arms I finally take a peek at what she is wearing (I was too busy focusing on catching her to register what she wore);A black and blue striped tee which is almost literally bursting at the seams to show a generous amount of cleavage (Looking away before I get too captivated). She also wears black shorts along with black and blue stockings. Also she’s wearing a black fedora and sports some black pumps.
Quite boyish clothing but by god does it not seem so. She fills out everything making her look completely stunning in this modest clothing. Especially with her deep red lips and blue-shaded eyes.
If this wasn’t Missy, I’d have ogled her forever (ogling Missy forever would end up having eye meet finger. That was a painful lesson indeed).
Anyways, we make it through to the gate and she quietly opens it, goes through it and closes it behind her. As you notice she makes me climb over the wall again…
Heading off into the night I offer her an arm like all gentlemen should and she gladly hugs it.
…
..
.
Oh why did I have to bring my shock padded Kevlar lined bike jacket…I feel nothing (damn).
Moving on; we make our way down the streets till we finally reach the place she’s dragging me off to. We hear the place before we see it though.
A soft reverberating beat is heard from the street as we approach the place. Taking out a small packet from my jacket pocket I open it up, take out a palm sized sheet and firmly press it against my neck. After about 30 seconds I release it and toss the sheet into the bin.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Now the visage is complete. Missy looks at my neck and smiles. Obviously she knows what it means but the intrepid onlooker would have no idea.
I have a temporary tattoo (I’d like to say henna but It’s a lot more temporary; it can be washed off anytime) and it’s a Japanese symbol…meaning cherry but it does its work.
Making our way to the bouncer, Jake, I give him a knuckle before he lets us through (I mean yes we’re underage, but no one would ever guess that looking at Missy, or even me in fact, especially as I’m now pretty freaking tall with my boots on).
Entering inside, the soft reverberating sound kicks up about 20 notches into an almost deafening sound of someone spewing out words without grammatical care. A myriad of colors spin around the jam packed room of bodies squirming about and doing what they call ‘dancing’.
The place itself is quite big with 3 floors; the first and second being dance floors while the third being the VIP lounge. However the same ‘music’ is played all throughout so there is no escape here.
Missy rushes off into the packed bodies and melds in with the crowd while I head off to the second floor.
The second floor is not really a floor but a maze of bridges and lounge squares. Best thing about the second floor is that you can see the first from above, how they don’t have drunk people fall off the barriers still confuses me.
Passing one of the security guards I give him a nod, Jedson I believe. Heading to my usual spot at the end of a bridge by a wall I lean against the wall and overlook the scene below, well specifically I’m watching one person.
Spotting her isn’t easy but I just look at where the most guys are slowly dancing their way to. I find her within the mass ‘dancing’ in sync with the people but nowhere near in sync with the music.
With her in my gaze I don’t lose sight of her, mostly because she doesn’t move off the first floor, but also because I have a most amazing view of the place:
From my spot I can see the exit on the first floor as well as the bar area. Also the first floor lounge seats are visible and some of the second floor too. I pretty much cover most of the bases. Even the bathroom; since the first floor’s is directly underneath me so I’ll know if she’s heading over.
But anyways, I continue to watch her dance and get taken repeatedly by different guys each time to the bar to be offered a drink. Fun thing is, she just takes the drink and walks off back into the dance floor. They really should try stop her but when she bows slightly after they buy her the drink they just stand there in a daze until Cashiel hands them a tissue.
The poor barman, Cashiel, has to keep giving out tissues to wipe their mild nosebleeds (I wish I was joking but the view from when she bows plus her almost doll like face is enough to make any man have a mild nosebleed.)
…
After about 2 hours I’m pretty much deaf from the music which seems to change but honestly it’s just the same words in a different order every time. Missy has gone up to the bar 14 times with 13 different guys and 1 girl (not quite sure if wants to befriend to get to guys or…). However Missy has gone back to the dance floor every time within moments of receiving the shot. She doesn’t wait around, just wants to party. I do feel a small tinge of sorriness for the guys who try, but only a small tinge.
However this time I feel is different. The guy who takes Missy up to the bar this time is wearing a stylish suit and sports a bit of stubble. He’s obviously an older guy but only in his mid twenties at most. I can’t really see any other features about him since he turns his back to me and starts chatting to Missy.
Apparently he’s got quite a good pickup line as Missy giggles oh so sexily.
However…
The guy only one shot and goes to drink it while Missy looks a bit perplexed. Sneaky bastard. However the contingency plan goes into effect and Cashiel slides a shot in between the two of them as he raised the glass to his lips. Pointing towards me, Cashiel then goes back to his job (Good job, I owe you once again).
The guy turns towards me and upon seeing me look right at him (albeit through a pair of fake sunglasses) he visibly shivers (yes tremble before my might ohoho fool). Missy bows slightly and melds back into the mass.
I immediately lose interest in the guy and continue to track Missy through the crowd, but I can still feel his gaze, which turned from fearful surprise to a more angry one (I’m quite good at sensing what the gazes mean; It might be because of repeated practice IRL and in the game too. Yes I have had a lot of practice receiving angry gazes…whoops).
But I don’t care; it’s not the first angry gaze that’s been sent my way from a shot-blocked guy.
“Hey…is that the guy?”
Somehow my ears pick up a sound other than this ‘music’, from a girl who is walking past me but stops and shouts to her friend (I think she was trying to whisper but she’s either deaf or drunk, or both).
“Sunglasses, Kanji tattoo on the neck, gloves and a bike jacket…that’s Missy’s brother alright” Her friend quickly looks me over (but why are my gloves a distinctive feature?)
“Oh, so that means she’s here”
Oh they know about Missy? I mean yes a lot of people see me in this spot and I have pretty much claimed it as my own but for them to know Missy…
I glance over at them and they jump back a step in shock (My disguise is as good as ever, thank god).
…
Mila and Jane, well I shouldn’t be surprised…I mean pretty much everyone from school comes in here some time or another.
But still to see numbers 4 and 5 wearing minishorts and short tops is quite the pleasure to my eye (but still can’t hold a candle to Missy).
Losing interest in them (well not really, just I have more important things in mind), I look back at where Missy is
…
..
.
She’s stumbling off to the front door and I see a group of 3 guys following closely behind…not good.
Turning back to the still stunned girls (apparently me looking at them half-scares them to death. Just what kind of rumors are there), I rush towards then and then glide past them (once again not a tight squeeze, but why must this situation repeat itself?).
Turning to my left I quickly walk down the stairs and have little problems since most people make way for me (once again, just what kind of rumors are there of me?).
Reaching the first floor I nod to Cashiel as I pass the bar and head outside.
…Jack, you’re such a good guy.
Thankfully Jack delayed Missy’s drunken departure with excuses of a friendly conversation (since getting to know the bouncer is extremely important).
I bow slightly towards him before I make myself known to Missy by coming to her side.
She looks at me and with a drunken grin hugs my arm. I start to walk off and as we do, I look back and make eye(?) contact with the three guys that were beginning to follow us half-stealthily (They’re decently drunk so they can really only be half-stealthy).
Visibly shivering they stop at being found out and Jack being ever so useful offers a subtle threat by saying goodbye to us loud enough for the trio to hear. Nobody wants to mess with a bouncer, much less a 1 85 ripped shirt one.
With a “tch” the leader of the trio, the sneaky guy I saw earlier, starts to walk away. But not before I get an angry gaze from him and the others.
I walk away nonchalantly until the club is out of sight (although the music is still slightly revertebrating in my ears).
“Phew”
Wiping a bit of sweat from my brow I start to guide Missy home. I may look large and mean but in a real fight I’d be completely screwed over.
Anyways, as I begin the long walk home Missy begins her rant. Sadly Missy is an angry drunk and oh so loves to rant at me about things I’ve done wrong or haven’t done or just about things in general really.
It’s not like I don’t enjoy her drunkenly trying to poke my chest and try to form words without slurring but I have to keep up my guard or she may turn from angry to violent drunk (another reason why I wear my shock padded Kevlar lined jacket).
“You…Whai ith is that Daddy doshnt allow me to play…wha wash it? Intha…no…Zach what wash it again?”
(Iloveyou online…should I? No, I almost forgot that I need to get past that large barrier called her father first). “Insanity online”.
“Yesh, Inshaniityyyy online. Ish it really that fun?”
“Yes, yes it is”
“I wanna play too…but how can-” She starts muttering to herself before she stops and looks at me with a smile
And this is the main problem of the night; whenever she’s drunk she always makes a horrible request. And if I don’t do it then…that’s how she becomes a violent drunk…
“Whatever you ask for Missy” No way to get out of it, might as well seem willing.
“How aboutsh you ashk my Daddy to let me plaaay?”
…
..
.
“Of course I will” (Whyyyy, but its either this or my face and body becomes unrecognizable, or worse)
“Thank youuu” She hugs my arm (well she was already hugging it but harder than before) and even through the shock padded and Kevlar lined jacket I can still feel a great pressure.
Well I did suspect that tonight was not going to end well but this…this is bad.
Reluctantly I take her home as she continues to poke me both verbally and physically but I endure as I’m more focused on preparing my mental will and numbering my problems.
Problem number 1: He doesn’t know anything about me sneaking her out and getting her drunk (So if he finds that out…I’m screwed)
Problem number 2: Missy is drunk and not very quiet so she will undoubtedly make problem number 1 happen
Problem number 3: Even if I avert problem number 1 initially then I will still be interrogated and thus once again problem number 1
Problem number 4: How can I convince her father that spending hours in a world getting killed by numerous monsters and having to brutally kill them is good for her…
All in all, I’m screwed.
But no more time to think about this since we’re at the front gate.
I turn to Missy, who stopped her rant as we came to this street.
“Forgive me”
“F-” I chop the back of her head with my hand knocking her out (Acupuncture history lessons from Jöt actually came in handy. Thank god I listened to some of it)
Catching her before she drops to the ground I put her into a princess carry (Extremely difficult since she doesn’t hold on) and unlock the front gate.
Stealthily (as much as I can at least) moving towards the front door I quietly turn the key and open the door.
The house is dark and I don’t hear anyone up. Walking quietly up the stairs I take Missy to her room. Tucking her into bed, I mouth good-night before exiting the room.
Quietly slipping down the stairs I head to the front door.
“Where are you going at this time of night, son? It’s cold outside. Wouldn’t you be better off sharing a nice hot drink with me, son?”
…
..
.
“Ah Sir” AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
I turn to my right, towards the living room, to see Missy’s father (i.e Sir to me) sitting in the dark holding a bottle of something. Also what’s with the ‘son’?
“Don’t just stand there, come…have a seat, son” He motions with a shadowy hand.
Problem number 1 has occurred as expected. Lady Luck really does not like me.
I move up to him and sit down opposite him.
He turns on a light beside him brightening the room and letting me see his calm face (wait that’s odd, shouldn’t he be angry or something?).
“So, is there anything you’d like to tell me?”
“…not really…”
“Oho…I seem to remember we played interrogation a while ago, would you like to play again?”
“No no I’m all good…Actually I do have something”
“Go on”
“Your daughter wants to play Insanity online, a super fun game where she gets to meet people and adventure in a fantasy land. What’s good is that it’s virtual reality so it has a high degree of realism, even better still the time is 3:1 so she doesn’t have to play as much in real life to play a lot in game.”
…
..
.
I’m not sure how that would make a convincing argument but when in doubt list some positives
“…I see…”
I’m screwed
“That sounds like a good idea”
…
..
.
Excuse-moi? I ‘m not sure I just heard correctly
“Uh..did you say…yes?”
“Sure, she’s a growing woman and needs to experience the world and this is a way for her to experience it without the dangers of real life, correct?”
“Y-yes of course, the pain sensor is only at 10% so getting slashed to pieces only pinches”
He raises an eyebrow
“Oh…a lot of things have happened to me”
He lowers his eyebrow as if to say that’s good enough.
“So I will get her the Compaq D-lute on one condition” Wait how does he know about the Compaq D-lute (Well it’s not like all adults have no technological sense in this world)?
“And what is that condition?” Like father like daughter; it’ll be completely unreasonable
“I’d like you to accompany her”
…
Ok quite reasonable…if it weren’t for the fact that my character is a female that is a trap and that I’m stuck in the northern part of the world with 2 other guys…So yes that’s pretty unreasonable for me.
“A-as much as I’d like to, I can’t”
“Now that is odd, I’d thought you’d be begging me to allow you to accompany her”
We both know my feelings and the peculiar relationship between me and her
“I would be, usually, but I’m in the middle of nowhere and I’m going to be stuck there for a very long time”
“Ah…” He starts musing while taking a small swig of water (oh so it’s a bottle of water, hopefully). “Is there anyone else that you trust to accompany her?”
“Hmm…Ah! Mickey can accompany her and he’s quite trustworthy, plus we live in the same house” So if things go south he’ll know where to find him…
“That sounds reasonable”
“But wouldn’t it be better for her to try it out by herself?”
“You know what my daughter looks like…she’d be in deep trouble if she played alone”
…
..
.
I take back what I said about him being technologically knowledgeable. I guess he only knew the name
“Uh…She can change herself to look like whoever she wants, even a guy if need be”
His eyes grow
“Whoever?”
I think Insanity online has just got 2 new players…
“Yes. And she can even be unrecognizable races such as goblin or golem”
“Then she should be fine when playing alone then”
“Yes and if she ever needs to talk to me or Mickey she can contact us through the in-headset Skype”
“That sounds like a plan. Now head off home, because it’s quite late” I check my phone and see its just hit 11 at night
“Alright, I look forward to seeing the both of you online” Whoops did I just say the both of them out loud?
“Hah, yes you will”
Oh ok he’s not going to deny it. Well overprotective father will always be overprotective father.
I start to walk out the room before I stop and swivel round
“How-”
He taps his nose suggesting that he knows it all (well that explains why he was sarcastically calling me son)…Hmm, so he hasn’t killed me out of choice so far. How kind of him.
Turning back round I leave the house, fast.
As I walk back home I kind of realize that all throughout the conversation I was quite calm. Which I really shouldn’t have been since it gets me on edge when thinking about him.
Maybe it was because he didn’t look as terrifying as I remember, or maybe because he agreed to the request.
…
Or maybe it’s because I’ve realized he’s simply just an overprotective father (with a lot of contacts it seems since he supposedly knows everything, as well as being an ex-Yakuza) looking out for his daughter.
But I think the main reason why he doesn’t seem so terrifying is that I’ve experienced something even more terrifying; Thalia and living nightmares of Gannor, a terrifying duo.
Well whatever the reason, he’s not as scary anymore. So that means I have accomplished the first step towards changing my relationship with Missy from personal bitch to something a little nicer.
Getting home I quietly climb up the pipe and re-enter my room (after putting away the sunglasses and jacket in the bike). Taking off my clothes and putting them back inside my bed, I head to the bathroom and wash off the fake tattoo with some water (as well as the concealer and the rest of the makeup with much difficulty).
Dropping into my bed, stifling an extremely tired yawn, I head off for my third battle this weekend.