Previously in NWC-
Reno manages to make a complete fool of himself, communicating his desire in the worst way possible. After creating a horrific misunderstanding, Reno leaves, confused. He gets back to the FTG and begins to teach Medusa manners and how to shake hands. Thinking it was play time, Medusa swings Reno around helplessly. Little did they know, CeCe was watching them from the trees and trying not to laugh with enjoyment. She finally cracks up and Reno stands there, trying to act like nothing happened...
CeCe giggles as she approaches the group. "Sure you were! So, is this the ball of light and tentacle monster?"
"She is NOT a tentacle monster!" Reno makes an 'X' with his arms and shakes his head violently.
Luna speaks with an increasing level of irritation. "You described me as a ball of light?! Really?!"
"That is literally what you are?!" Reno and Luna fail to keep themselves from arguing, causing CeCe to laugh again.
Medusa, during the confusion, turns and looks at CeCe, her eyes narrowing. CeCe's eyes raise slightly with curiosity as Medusa slides over to her. "Oh? And what is this little cutie's name?" CeCe kneels down to meet Medusa, extending her hand. Medusa's eyes narrow more as she finally stands in front of CeCe. Medusa quickly extends her arm. Time slows down as Reno and Luna look over.
"Medusa, no!" Reno begins reaching out, trying to stop Medusa from swinging CeCe around.
"Muh!" Medusa's hand stops right before contacting CeCe's and gently wraps around it. She gently shakes CeCe's hand and smiles.
"Well aren't you just the sweetest little thing? You're the most well behaved one here, aren't you?" CeCe lets go of Medusa's hand and rubs her head.
Reno stops and watches, a feeling of betrayal growing in his heart. "What the hell, Medusa?! Why aren't you swinging her around like you keep doing to me?!"
Medusa smiles and waves her arms around. Her smile grows as she turns to Reno" Muh!"
CeCe giggles and watches the exchange. "You like playing with Reno, Medusa?"
Medusa jumps with joy and waves her arms around. "Reno! Reno!"
CeCe puts her hands on her own cheeks and stands up. "Aww! She knows how to say your name! That's so adorable! I just wanna' take you everywhere with me!" Reno finally manages to suppress his anger. "Medusa… how could you betray me like this?" He turns back to CeCe who was standing in front of him now. "This is Medusa. We found her when tearing down a house and we didn't want to leave her where she could potentially hurt someone. However, she's done really well so far, so you don't have to worry too much."
"Too much?"
"She likes to play rough." Reno's voice is tinged with pain as he thinks about all of the times he's been assaulted by her.
CeCe giggles as she sees Reno's face cringe slightly. "I know~! I saw~! You're such a good play mate, Reno!"
Reno mumbles to himself before holding a hand under Luna as if she were an item to be displayed. "This is the floating ball of light, Galoghor the De-"
Luna cuts Reno off, flying in front of his face and shouting. "It's not! My name is Luna! It's LUNA!" She angrily flies into Reno's face repeatedly.
CeCe shakes her head and smiles. "It's nice to meet you Medusa and Luna! I don't know how much Reno has told you about me, but my name is CeCe! I'm a merchant and the sole source of shipping for Bambadale. I try to come out once a month, but more often than not I find myself only able to come out every couple months."
Luna calms down and approaches CeCe. "It's a pleasure to meet you too, CeCe. My name is Luna, and I've been traveling with Reno for a couple weeks now. I heard we'll be joining you two on an adventure?"
"That's right! I hired Reno's help and he asked if he could bring some friends along. I'm glad to see the friends in question are so lively! I look forward to our little outing with one another!" CeCe politely bows her head and returns with a bright smile. "I have to fulfill Bambadale's order, but right after that we'll be diving head first in our adventure!"
Medusa gently tugs on CeCe's shirt. "Muh!" Medusa points at herself then at CeCe.
"That's right! You're gonna be coming with us!"
Medusa jumps with joy and waves her arms. "Muh!"
Luna slowly floats over and whispers to CeCe. CeCe covers Luna and her face so they can speak privately. "Between us, Medusa is more like Reno's daughter."
"Oh, is that so~?" CeCe giggles as eh glances over her hand at Reno.
"Hey! What the hell are you talking about over there?" Reno's eyes narrow as he points at the two.
Luna floats over CeCe's hand for a second. "We are talking about Medusa and how well trained she is becoming."
Reno puffs his chest out and picks up Medusa. "That's right! She's learning from the best there is!" Reno tosses Medusa in the air repeatedly. 'I have the best vine creature ever!" Medusa waves her arms happily as she continuously flies through the air.
"See?"
CeCe watches the two and chuckles. "Aww, Reno is such a good daddy!"
Reno catches Medusa and turns to CeCe. "I'm not her dad! Luna, dammit! Stop spreading rumors!"
"Consider it payback for trying to tell her my name is Galoghor the Destructor." Reno glares at Luna, not able to refute her.
CeCe smiles one more time before she speaks. "Well, I should be off! I have a couple more things to finish up before I head out tomorrow. I look forward to working with you all, and who knows? Maybe we can a continued partnership in this?"
"Leaving already? It was a pleasure meeting you, CeCe. Please be safe during your travels." Luna floats over to Reno.
"See ya' later, CeCe." Reno waves his hand.
"Muh!" Medusa jumps and waves goodbye.
Having said farewell, CeCe leaves, talking to herself. "They seem like a fun little group! I think we might have a future beneficial partnership in the making!"
The group watches as CeCe leaves. Finally, Luna turns to Reno. "You behaved poorly. I expected more from you."
Reno turns and points at himself with exaggerated motions. "ME?! What the hell do you mean I behaved poorly?! You're like 10 times as old as me and you're sitting there spreading rumors like a high school girl?!"
"I was simply informing our future comrade of a fun fact about you."
"Stop spreading misinformation!" Reno and Luna continue their arguing before finally growing tired. They spend the rest of the day training. The rest of the day passes and night time comes. Reno, as he crawls in bed, sighs, knowing he's going to be strangled in his sleep.
Morning comes and Reno is the first to wake up. He looks down, unsurprised by the fact that he can't move. He looks over at Medusa who was currently drooling on his pillow. "Muh…" She whispered in her sleep, making it difficult for Reno to be mad at the sight before him.
"(Damn… So this is my life, huh?" He looks at Luna who was no longer a bright glowing ball. He find solstice in the fact that she can lower her luminosity. He looks back over at Medusa and then at the roof. "(It could be worse, I guess.)" Reno has to wait 45 minutes before Medusa finally wakes up and lets him go. They begin their day like any other, starting with breakfast and quickly following it up with training. Reno continues to frustratingly attempt to cast magic while Luna watches and Medusa plays. CeCe stops on her way out of town, saying goodbye and reminding them of the dates.
"I'll be back in two weeks, so make sure you're in top shape, okay?" CeCe playfully winks as she pumps her fist. "Is there anything you'd like from the Rosaire kingdom? You can find just about anything there, so don't be shy!"
"Not that I can really think of. Maybe bring us some candy or something? There's a certain girl with a sweet tooth in this party."
Luna sounds genuinely surprised. "That's quite sweet of you to think of someone else like that." Luna felt a slight tug at her heart when Reno says this, but it's immediately replaced with irritation by his next remark.
"Yeah, Medusa loves eating anything with sugar in it. It'd be nice if we could get her something new to try."
CeCe hides a smirk as she senses the irritation in Luna's voice. "Yes. Medusa sure would love it, wouldn't she." Her voice is monotone and void of all emotion.
CeCe jots down the order and waves as she sets off, leaving the party of three to themselves. Reno turns to Luna and speaks. "Don't you like sweet stuff too?" Luna quickly removes herself from the situation, doing her best not to blow up at Reno. "I swear, she must like being mad or something."
TO BE CONTINUED...