I start making my way down towards Burmington and I arrive at the front gate where a guard is half asleep but notices me. He stands at attention but looks at me confused and almost flustered.
He looks away and welcomes me but I can't help but feel like he is looking back at me as I pass away. Might be because he either doesn't recognize me or it is because I am walking bare-chested holding a piece of armor.
I walk by the alleys and some kids are playing in them like pretending to be adventurers. Wish I had that kind of childhood but it was mostly me working in the tavern.
I continue walking and I pass some girls 2 humans and an elf and they stop and look at me with wide eyes. I stop as well thinking they were gonna ask me something but instead they look at me. I think they are...ahem...admiring my physic. I decide to have a bit of fun and take my hand behind my head and bent back a bit and arch my head forward a bit.
I flex my abs and muscle and they giggle and start speedily walking away while watching me and making flustered gossip about me. Fun. I don't know why it is though. I feel bad now a bit. I notice more eyes watching me and I start continuing to walk.
As I make my way I notice Ariel at a produce market and decide to give her a visit. I slowly make my way through the crowd of people not to disturb them that a red and black caiman is walking past them. Might be a bit awkward.
I make myself close to her and then sneak up on her conversation. I place my hands on her shoulder and say boo to scare her a bit.
"Boo"
"Eek"
she swings away with her basket in hand and I duck down causing her to miss me with that. But she continues to swing it a second time and hits me in the jaw causing me to stumble a bit.
"Who are you, you better back off I'm! OH Coda?! Wh-what are you doing here?!"
"I'm ow...*rubs my jaw* I'm here on a mission to repair my stuff. I decided to play a little game a scare you a bit but that turned out wrong. Sorry"
"Well, you shouldn't scare a proper lady like that. Who knows I could have been armed with a dagger and stabbed you."
"In all honesty, you'd probably miss the first few stabs. But anyway..."
"Oh yes, how are you- wait why are you bare-chested?" she asks shielding her eyes but still peaking through her fingers.
"OH simple, my shirt was stolen by a bird and so I have no shirt now. I can't wear my armor without a shirt on otherwise it pinches me and is cold."
"Ah, but still cover yourself you in the public space honey. Please allow me to buy you a shirt"
*Ariel POV*
My boy is so mature and strong-looking...Wish I had a man like that. Those muscles... Wh-what am I saying he is like a son to me..I I can't think of him like that. Bad Ariel Bad!
*Coda POV*
"Ahem?! Are you there? Ariel?"
she seems to be dozing off looking at me a bit. I wave in front of her face and she seems to snap out of it. She catches herself and takes her scarf and covers her face all flustered. What is that all about?
"I-I am sorry I was just thinking about how much you've physically matured. I am so proud of you."
"Oh, why thank you. But I couldn't have done it without a strong mother figure to help me."
"Aw, thank you son!"
We hug each other for a brief moment but she pushes me off and covers her face with her scarf
"Shit, I shouldn't have done that" she whispers to herself
"what?"
"n-nothing! Please let me go shopping now cya later honey!"
"Oh uhm, cya!" I wave to her goodbye for now.
Man, she has not changed one bit..mentally and physically. She is beautiful. I bet she has many eyes on her by men alike. Even I can admit it.
Anyways...I make my way towards a workshop where maybe I can get some help with my armor.
I open the shop to see no one inside but the lights are on so I approach the front desk. I still notice no one around but I do see a small desk bell where customers can ring it at the front desk.
I ring it and it causes a piercing ding in the air to ring.
*Ding*
I wait for a few seconds but spend some time browsing their wares I also notice they have some shirts. But I have no money I then realize. I guess this will be my browsing and then potentially become a customer.
I wait a bit longer and then suddenly I hear a loud clang noise in the back of the shop with steam or smoke coming out of the room.
*clang*
I notice smoke arising out of the back of the shop and start yelling if everything is alright.
"Hey is everything okay!" I get no response and the smell of smoke start arising even more and more. I am no rocket scientist but this smells bad!
I take my word for it and drop my armor and run inside the back and notice the fireplace seems to be smoking burning up a lot more and an unconscious woman with red hair and tan skin. Her eyes open up a little bit but close back down and she goes limp. The smoke seems to be getting worse so it is best to get her out of here now.
I pick her up and carry her over to the front desk and out the door where smoke is now coming out of the door. I kick open the door unnecessarily and run into the back and run over to a large sheet and cover the fire up with it hoping to snuff it out. And it seems to work.
I start to kicking it aggressively and the fire dies out and eventually is gone completely. Phew...Close one. I don't know why I risked my skin for this place but I just did.
*minutes later*
I am sitting outside as guards and people start gathering outside next to the store where the fire had started and are getting a bit crowded. I notice the unconscious woman over by the guards speaking to them as a guard comes over with a blanket for me. In all honesty, I am very warm after this encounter with a fire so I didn't need it. But when I look over at the tanned lady she seems to be shivering a bit in the cold wind.
I stand up and walk over to her and toss my blanket over her shoulder which surprises her and she turns around at me. Her eyes glitter up and I look into her eyes. I turn around and walk back inside the smokey building looking for my chest armor and found it.
I walk back outside where some people with pencils and quills and paper run up to me and start questioning me.
"Sir did you cause this fire"
"Sir did you do or didn't cause this fire"
"Sir did you save this woman bare-chested for a reason or is it just common for you to do this?"
All these questions overwhelm me and I look around for a way out and I see it. I take my chances and run through the crowd of the press and run away with my chest plate in my hands and run off into the distance away from Burmington.
*3 minutes later of running*
*huff huff huff*
I think *huff* I got away *Huff*
Those people were relentless with their questions...I guess that's the press for you. I don't get how celebrities deal with them on a daily basis. Or somewhat daily basis.
I return back home and the lights are still off. I decide to take one more attempt to knock of the door but instead of that I might climb through the open window in Lara's room and go from there. I don't want to sleep outside. Shirtless as well.
I knock of the door but it creaks open a bit
*creak*
I blink a couple of times but ignore it since I am inside the house now. I walk in slowly and it is quiet. Very very quiet...I hear the creak of the floorboards and close the door behind me locking it. I start making my way to the kitchen where there is candlelight and then see no one there except a closed book.
I walk over to it and blow out the candle with a clear smoke from it blowing away now. I stand up straight and breathe in knowing I am ho-I stop for a second and feel off. I turn around and see nobody behind me but I look closer and I see a shadowy figure in the darkness.
I widen my eyes and suddenly everything changes where I a blade comes close to my face if I didn't grab a book. the shadowy figure comes close to me with a blade I can tell and I grab the book from behind me and block the attack with it. The blade gets stuck and I take my chance and throw the book with the blade stuck in it away and then tackle the shadowy figure. But it is so dark I can't see right and I fall on top of them.
I open my eyes and I feel my hands on something squishy with a roundness to them. Wait are these? Breasts? Suddenly a candle light goes on and Arla and Yua and Uchida are standing together with candles for each of them and it lights up the room we are in. I notice I am on top of Lara grabbing her breasts. She is making a flustered face and she is looking away from me.
What a riunion.