Previously in NWC-
Luna scolds Medusa for nearly killing Reno. Medusa, as a result, makes a wooden bowl and feeds Reno her mystery purple liquid. According to Reno, it tastes terrible, but it also numbed the pain in his stomach to the point where he couldn't feel anything. Luna goes on Reno for planning on them sleeping on the ground during their campout. Reno accepts Luna's apology?! Luna and Reno put together a small shelter for their campout. Medusa's project is completed, found out to be the perfect stock for the guns Kent was making...
"Ree!" Medusa nods her head with enthusiasm, increasingly excited that Reno understood her. "Muh, ree daa!" She excitedly hands Reno the completed rifle.
"It's definitely better than nothing. I can't believe how well it's made! I never would've guessed Medusa could read minds! All it took was feeling like my brain was going to explode!" He admires her work, genuinely impressed with the level of detail. Finally, he remembers something. "Wait right here!" He rushes over and begins rummaging through his backpack. He retrieves the bag of cookies and gives one to Medusa. She inspects it, not sure what it is or what to do with it. After she looks at it from every angle and sniffs it, she looks at Reno. "You eat it! Take a bite!"
"Muh?" Medusa takes a bite out of it and smiles with joy. She jumps with glee and cheers from the joy of being rewarded. She quickly grabs more wood and begins making more, this time, she's using her vines to make three simultaneously.
Reno can't help but smile at how motivated Medusa is. He returns to new shelter and looks at it. "Well, Luna, what do you want to do for bedding? We could bring the blankets from the barn, but then they'd get dirt all over them."
"Perhaps the mayor has spare camping equipment? You might be able to ask him."
Reno contemplates the idea, pacing back and forth before finally agreeing. "He did seem to have a lot of spare stuff sitting around. I guess I could see if there's anything he's not using. I'll be back." Reno sets off, going to the town hall and meeting with the mayor. "Hey, old man! I was wondering if you had any extra camping equipment?"
The mayor goes quiet as he thinks to himself. "Ah! I believe I might have a sleeping bag and some pots! Are you planning on camping somewhere?"
"Just a little area in the forest I cleared out. Someone's been nagging me about wanting to camp so I caved and agreed."
The mayor becomes intrigued by this statement. "Who would that be? Did you make a friend in town?" He starts looking through the closet as he speaks to Reno.
Reno quickly realizes the mistake in his verbiage. "Ah, no! Just talking about myself! I always wanted to camp as a kid and that feeling has kinda been nagging me now that I have the ability to do it!"
"Ah! Yes, yes. I remember when I first gained a bit of adult freedom! I was out and about adventuring with a care in the world!"
"You adventured, old man?"
"You're damn right I did! As soon as I could, I set off and was getting' in loads of trouble! But, no matter where I went, and no matter what things I saw, nothing compared to waking up everyday in Bambadale. I got homesick quick n' came right back. Got a scolding from my mother, but it was worth it!" The mayor finally finishes rummaging, setting some pots and a sleeping bag on the counter. "Here ya' go, young Reno! And before you try an' pay me, I haven't used these things for a bit! I'm amazed the pans aren't rusted and the sleeper eaten by rats! You're doin' me a favor by getting these out of my hair."
Reno grabs the pans and sleeping bag, sighing. "You really do spoil people too much, you know that?"
"It's my job as mayor to keep my citizens happy!"
"Well, I guess I'll be off to my little campsite. See you later, old man!" As Reno turns to leave, the mayor calls out to him.
"Just a moment, young Reno!"
Reno turns around, his eyebrow raising in curiosity. "Hmm?"
"You said your campsite was in the forest, correct?"
"Yeah. It's just a couple minute walk from the edge of the forest to the spot. Why, what's up?"
The mayor thinks for a second before making his final decision. "You know, nobody really uses the forest for much. It's not dangerous or nothing, but none of Bambadale is much for exploring. We're either not interested or too old. Why don't you take the little place you made?"
"What? You mean, like, legally own that spot?"
"Exactly! You were thinkin' about making Bambadale your home, so it only makes sense you'd think about getting a place to build a house!"
Reno, caught off guard by the mayor's proposal, stares in awe. Finally, he manages to recollect himself. "I can't just take land, old man! Giving me unused camping equipment is one thing but giving me a portion of your town is completely different."
"What if you worked for it? I could take a bit out of what I pay you until you pay it off?"
Reno stop and thinks about it. "That's… actually reasonable. I'd be willing to agree to that as long as we work out a price. I don't want you taking a single dull then calling it good."
The mayor laughs, the only reaction he can muster to being found out. "Alright, alright! How about 200 then? Since it's just a piece of unused land it doesn't have much value."
Reno thinks about the offer before finally caving. "Fine. 200 dulls, and not one less, you hear?!"
The mayor continues to chuckle as Reno goes on. "Sounds great! I'll be out there tomorrow to get a measurement of the plot of land so I can get the deed written up! How's around noon sound?"
"I'll be waiting! If you go behind the barn and walk straight at the forest then you should see the path I've been slowly making."
"Sounds good! You'd better be hungry then, 'cause I'll be brining lunch!"
Reno waves farewell to the mayor and sets off with his camping equipment. "I'm sure the old man probably sold it to me really cheap, but I have no clue how much land costs in this world. Whatever, I'm sure Luna will be excited to hear the news, Medusa will be excited by just about anything so she'll be happy even if she doesn't understand it." Reno makes his way back to his future legally owned plot of land, holding up the camping gear as he approaches. "Luna, Medusa, I'm back!" Medusa rushes over, dropping the pieces of wood. Luna slowly makes her way over, inspecting the equipment.
"It would appear the mayor had just what we needed! I'm quite thankful that I won't be sleeping on the ground!"
Reno looks at Luna with a hint of annoyance. "You would just sleep in my shirt anyway? What are you even talking about?"
"This might come as a surprise, but my body, in it's current state, is quite small. Therefore, the transfer of heat from my body to the surrounding environment has a much more drastic effect on me. A single degree difference might not affect you, but I am unfortunately subjugated to every minor change in temperature, humidity, and even wind speed. So, yes, I would simply sleep in the confines of your clothing, however, I would still be much more comfortable if there were something to maintain heat given off, such as a sleeping bag."
Reno is left speechless. He looks at her with concern for a couple seconds after Luna finished to make sure he didn't interrupt her. "I was just messing around, you know?"
"I ask that you please refrain from doing anything that might sully this experience for me."
"Have you not been camping before or something?"
"I have not. I've never once been able to stop and admire this planet for the miracle that it is."
"You've been alive for hundreds of years and you never once thought 'Man, I really want to sleep outside'?"
"Camping is an activity that I've wanted to do for years. However, when you're a deity who cares about their followers, you simply do not have the time necessary to do the things you wish to do. Between being a deity and fighting for my life, I've not had the opportunity to do much."
Reno quietly makes his way to their shelter and sets out the sleeping bag. He moves on to prepare the campfire and set out the food they would be eating. He looks over at Luna with an expression of pity. "Anything else? I can cut a tree to make the shelter bigger if you'd like."
Luna sighs as she makes her way over. "We should fill the pots with water, should we not? Unless you plan on boiling the vegetables with nothing but air."
"Clearly you don't own an air frier."
"What are you even talking about?"
Reno stands up and grabs the pots. "Sorry. I'll go get the water." Reno takes Medusa and fills the three pots with water, bringing them back and putting them aside. "I think that's about it. All we have to do is wait until we fall asleep!" The three break off and continue their separate tasks.
TO BE CONTINUED...