Slimantha stepped into the lobby of Tabitha’s Apartments, her black shoes tapping against the wooden floor. A cute smile graced her lips, her long brown hair displayed a graceful sway as she walked. The Place in the Pond was fun, but it was good to be back. Samuel, Black, and Latril followed behind the happy slime summoner as said happy slime summoner approached the lobby’s counter.
“Welcome to Tabitha’s Apartments,” a petite short-haired mimic said, glancing up to the new arrivals from behind the counter. She held a gray rag in her right hand, and a bottle of cleaner sat on the counter. As was the norm for mimics, she looked reminiscent of a golden statue—her skin, hair, and eyes all being golden in color. Her outfit, though, was certainly not golden in hue. Instead, a lacy purple dress adorned her, and a pair of matching shoes clad her feet.
“Hi, Mitsy,” Slimantha said, stepping up to the counter. “Nice to see you again.” The slime summoner leaned over said counter and gave Mitsy a smile.
“Welcome back,” another voice said, its owner stepping into the lobby from deeper in the apartment complex. The petite porcelain-skinned woman walked over, her black shoes faintly sounding out against the wooden floor. Her long black hair swayed beautifully with her steps, and her lovely red eyes were absolutely flawless. Like Mitsy, she wore a lacy dress and matching shoes. Unlike Mitsy, though, her dress and shoes were black. This oddly flawless woman was Tabitha the Doll, the landlady of Tabitha’s Apartments.
Tabitha’s eyes shifted to Latril, and her lips twisted into one of her flawless smiles. “Welcome to Tabitha’s Apartments. I am Tabitha the Doll, the landlady.” She held out her right hand.
“Latril the Crow,” Latril said, shaking the offered hand. She recoiled slightly at Tabitha’s touch. Something about Tabitha’s flawlessness felt off.
“A pleasure to meet you.” Tabitha withdrew her hand and flashed another one of her flawless smiles. “Would you like an apartment?”
“N-No need.” Latril glanced away from Tabitha. “I’m good.” Somehow, she was having trouble maintaining eye contact with this oddly flawless woman. She managed to will her eyes back to the landlady though. “Just what are you?”
“I’m Tabitha the Doll. Whatever else would I be?” Tabitha flashed another flawless smile that seemed too perfect to be real.
As Tabitha and Latril conversed, Samuel stepped up to the counter and the mimic standing behind it. “I see you got a new dress,” he said. “It’s pretty.”
Mitsy put down the gray rag. “You think so?” She stepped away from the counter to better display the lacy purple dress. “Tabitha gave it to me. It is so pretty. I love it.” Her golden eyes went back to Samuel, and she smiled. “Actually, I’m Tabitha’s assistant now.” She leaned a little closer to the hero. “I love that shirt you gave me too.”
“I thought you would have gotten rid of that shirt.” Samuel gave a good-natured laugh.
“Why would I do that?” Mitsy pulled back and placed her arms around herself. “It makes me feel so warm and fuzzy.” She lowered her arms. “I slept in it last night. I had”—her cheeks turned red—“nice dreams.”
Samuel’s cheeks reddened too. “I’m glad you like it.” He stepped back as the mimic stepped toward him.
“You know?” Mitsy took another step toward Samuel. “I’d love to show you my new apartment. Want to go right now?”
Black’s brown eyes shifted from Mitsy, to Samuel, and then back to Mitsy. A cute little pout displayed on her lips. “Actually,” she finally said, interrupting the conversation between Mitsy and Samuel, “we are here about Gold Mountain.”
Mitsy stiffened at the mere utterance of that place. She stepped back behind the counter and ducked down. Black, for her part, stepped up to the counter and peered over it. Her tail swished. Her lips shifted back into a pout. A wooden chest with a flat top peered back at her.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Something wrong?” Slimantha said, stepping up to the counter. She peered over said counter. “Oh, for the love of goddess, not this again.” The slime summoner stepped behind the counter and rapped a few times on the chest’s lid. “We kind of need you to come back out.”
“But it’s scary out there.” Mitsy’s voice came from inside the chest. “It’s nice, warm, and cozy in here.”
Slimantha crossed her arms and pouted. “Look. You are coming out, or you are coming out.” The slime summoner grabbed the chest’s lid. “Want to do this the hard way?”
“I-I’m coming out,” Mitsy said shrilly. The chest’s lid swung open, and a shaky Mitsy climbed out. “S-See. I’m out. Please don’t manhandle me.”
Slimantha smiled, her brown eyes on the petite mimic. “Great. So … Can you take us to Gold Mountain? We kind of need to go there.”
“G-Gold Mountain?!” Mitsy’s breaths turned rapid. Her golden complexion visibly paled. “I-I got it.” She pulled a pencil and a sheet of paper out from behind the counter. “A map. I’ll make you a map. I won’t need to go if I make you a map.” She began frantically scribbling away. A moment later, she thrust the completed map into Slimantha’s hands, her breaths still rapid, her complexion still pale.
Slimantha’s gaze turned to the map. She blinked. Was that a tree? Why was it smiling? Was it happy? Was it a happy tree? She blinked again and then looked at the others. “Uh, guys, can any of you make sense of this?”
Black stepped up to the slime summoner’s right, the cat woman’s eyes going to the thing purported to be a map. “Is that supposed to be the sun? Why is it smiling?”
“Sun?” Slimantha glanced at Black. Then the slime summoner’s eyes went back to the map. “Looks more like a happy tree to me.”
“Let me take a look,” Samuel said, stepping up to Slimantha’s left. His blue eyes went to the map. “Actually, isn’t that a snake? I do agree that it is smiling though.”
Slimantha pursed her lips, her brown eyes on the snake sun tree, a look of determination on her face. “Clearly,” she said, “Gold Mountain is past the smiling sun tree and through the field of snakes and cheese sandwiches.”
A sigh slipped out from between Black’s lips, and the cat woman pulled back. “I don’t think this is going to work,” she said. “What even is a smiling sun tree?”
Slimantha lowered the map, her eyes going to Black. A smile showed on her lips. “You know. A smiling tree that is also the sun.”
Black blinked. Her tail swished. “And what’s the deal with the field of snakes and cheese sandwiches?”
“Snakes and cheese sandwiches?” Slimantha’s eyes went back to the map. Then they returned to Black. “Well, I suppose the smiling sun tree does look a little like a snake, and why not cheese sandwiches?”
Black sighed again. This time her tail drooped. “Like I said, I don’t think this is going to work.” Then her tail gave a swish, and she glanced at Mitsy. The mimic was adamant about not going to Gold Mountain, but … Black’s lovely brown eyes went to Samuel, a lovely smile on the cat woman’s lips. Her feline tail twisted cutely behind her. “You know?” She pressed closer to the hero, her voice quiet. “It would be simpler if Mitsy just took us there.” She pressed even closer. Her tail gently stroked the outside of Samuel’s right leg. “Why don’t you butter her up?”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Samuel replied to Black quietly. Her tail drew his attention, stroking the outside of his left leg now. His gaze went up from the cat woman’s tail to the cat woman’s face. He glanced at her soft lips and the smile gracing those lips. Then his blue eyes met her lovely brown eyes. His cheeks reddened. “I’ll do it,” he finally added, still keeping his voice down.
“Great,” Black said, pulling back. Then she winked her right eye at Samuel. “Just remember you are on a mission, so no funny business.” She snickered, pulling even further back. Then she glanced at Slimantha and Latril. “Samuel’s going to work on Mitsy. Let’s meet here tomorrow morning. Sound good?” She got a series of nods from Slimantha, Latril, and Samuel. “I’ll head to my apartment then. See you guys tomorrow.” She waved goodbye and then turned to leave. She stopped walking as she reached the hall. Her tail swished, and she glanced back, flashing Samuel a smile. Then she stepped into the hall, vacating the lobby.
Latril turned to Slimantha, the swird woman’s lovely golden sword eyes meeting Slimantha’s beautiful brown eyes. “So,” Latril said. “Want to head to my lair?” She grabbed the slime summoner’s hands.
Slimantha smiled at the touch of her girlfriend’s soft skin. “I’d love to,” she said, squeezing Latril’s hands back. “Let’s go.” She gave Latril a tug toward the exit.
“Well, aren’t you enthusiastic?” Latril said, putting her arms around Slimantha and pulling the slime summoner closer. She glanced at Slimantha’s lips. “What kissable lips you have.” Her own lips moved toward Slimantha’s lips. The slime summoner mirrored the gesture, but Latril stopped short—stopped before their lips met. “Lets save the kissing for later.” She turned to Samuel. “We’re heading out. Don’t wait up. Have fun with the mimic.” Hand in hand with her slime-summoner girlfriend, she headed for the exit.
Samuel turned away from the two departing lovers. His gaze shifted to Mitsy, who had returned to cleaning the counter. Said mimic glanced up from the counter and gave him a smile. Maybe the plan wouldn’t be all that hard. He smiled back at Mitsy. For now, it was just him, Mitsy, and Tabitha in the lobby.