Beaming, Fluff gave Stacia a quick hug, “Thank you.”
Alburet coughed gently, “Shall we?”
The trio entered the guild hall to take a portal to the Orc Grasslands. Alburet waved at Kim as they went by the desk. It was busy, but not nearly as bad as the day before. Kim waved back at them as they passed.
Once they got to the grasslands Alburet summoned his minions and made a copy of Stacia. “Okay gang, same as yesterday. You all ready to kill the orcs?”
Bob shrugged, “Sure, but I thought we were going gnoll hunting today.”
“Maybe with Karen, but she isn't here yet,” Alburet replied.
“I am ready to kill your enemies, master,” Tiny rumbled.
“We are ready to serve ya as ya see fit, master,” Stacias one and two purred in unison from either side of him.
Alburet swatted both on the rump, “Down, Kitten. We are hunting mobs, not trying to seduce me while Fluff is present.”
Pouting Stacia nodded, “As master wishes.”
Fluff watched the byplay with pink tinged cheeks, “Is she always that forward?”
“No,” Alburet replied as they began to move into the grasslands watching Fluff nod. “Sometimes she is much less restrained. I mean, this time she didn't grope me or try to strip me.”
“Can we?” Stacia piped up her eyes sparkling.
“Down, Kitten,” Alburet laughed. “Besides, she does it in play. She wouldn't do anything to make you really uncomfortable, as she considers you a friend.”
Stacia winked at Fluff when Fluff looked in her direction. “Unless ya want me to do things to ya, Fluff.”
Fluff went crimson and turned away grooming both ears at the same time for a few moments.
Alburet rolled his eyes but before he could say anything Tiny interrupted him, “First patrol coming this way.”
Alburet buffed Tiny with Demonic Vitality, Demonic Retribution and Demonic Haze before buffing himself with Demon Skin. “Go for it, Tiny,” Alburet said once he had all the buffs applied.
The next three hours went by easily, with Stacia dazing both orcs in each patrol leaving them only the Warg to worry about for initial combat. Things were a touch slower without Karen, but no issues came up.
Right near one in the afternoon the guild icon started flashing. Alburet and Fluff each tapped the icon to check the message. Stacia pouted, “Mine won't work while I am in this form, boo.”
Alburet gave her a quick hug, “Yeah, thought that might happen considering the group issue we found earlier. You can always shift for a moment to check then shift back before combat.”
Nodding enthusiastically, she did just that. Alburet turned his attention to the message, missing the fact that one Stacia was now human while the other was in demon form.
Karen:
Where you all at? I want to kill things too.
Fluffbalclass="underline"
Killing orcs again, come on out.
Stacia:
We would love to have you.
Karen:
I bet you would. I’ll be there as fast as I can.
A little bit more than half an hour later, during the down time between pulls, Alburet was surprised when Karen suddenly wrapped her legs around his waist and planted her lips firmly on his. She became visible abruptly, he had started to react violently, but managed to check his reaction. He wrapped his arms around her and returned the kiss. After a minute, she unwrapped her legs and dropped to the ground, breaking the kiss.
“That is a thank you for getting me in, you stud you.” Karen winked at him then subjected Stacia to the same treatment. “That is so you don't mind me doing it to him,” she said as she broke that kiss, turning to Fluff.
Fluffball, who had watched the scene with pink cheeks and wide eyes suddenly found Karen coming towards her. Stammering and shaking her head, she backed away slowly like a prey animal who was cornered.
Karen paused a few steps away before launching herself at Fluff, wrapping her in a tight hug. “Thank you as well, Fluff. My email mentioned that you put a good word in for me, too. I would thank you like I did them, but I think you’re a bit slower paced. Right?”
Fluff swallowed audibly while nodding, “Y... yeah. You, um, you’re welcome.”
Karen looked up into Fluff's eyes though her lashes, “If you do want a kiss, though, all you have to do is ask. Any time.”
Fluff went from pink to scarlet in a heartbeat, “Err... umm...”
Karen released her with a bright smile, “Well. Now that Alpha Company is all back together, let's get this show on the road.”
Fluff began to groom her ears again as soon as Karen released her.
Alburet nodded, Mindstone in hand, “I just sent Gerald and Marysue messages asking if they wanted to hit the Orc Village again to kill the Chieftain. If they get back to me in the next few hours we can do that with you, too.”
“I see someone wants to double up on the thanks,” Karen chuckled.
Laughing, Alburet shook his head, “While I wouldn't mind, let's tone it down for Fluff for now, okay?”
Karen glanced at the still red Lunari, nodding, “Right. I did train my level fifteen ability before heading out here, so if I can hit sixteen today we can see about gnolls tomorrow.”
“Let's not stand around then,” Alburet said, buffing Tiny up again. “Start the ball rolling, Tiny.”
The group spent the next two hours scouring the grasslands. Nothing survived in their wake, the patrol groups cut down with brutal efficiency. As the second hour came to an end Alburet reached level seventeen.
As he was distributing his points he noticed his message icon flashing.
Message from Gerald:
Alburet, we’ll be glad to do the Orc Chieftain again. You should have your succubus by now which means the last fight will be easier since you can lock down the healers. Give us thirty minutes and we’ll meet you at the fort, or we can meet you in an hour at the village.
Alburet grinned as he sent back his reply. “Ladies, we are heading back to the fort to meet up with Gerald and Marysue. We are going to steamroll the Orc Village and kill off the Chieftain for Karen, which should hopefully net you both a level.”
“I already have the quest to kill him, so we just need to hook up with them.” Karen said eagerly, “I am so looking forward to being able to tackle new mobs tomorrow.”
They headed back to the fort, taking the time to sell off the loot they had gotten during their slaughter in the grasslands. A few minutes later Gerald and Marysue showed up and Alburet invited them both to the group.
“Good to see you both again,” Alburet greeted them. “Wow, you guys are seventeen, too,” he whistled softly, “that’s a lot of play time.”
Gerald shrugged, “Yeah, but I have to go back to work tomorrow. It was nice having the two weeks off at the start but now it’s back to balanced playing again.”
Marysue nodded, “Family obligations for me. We’ll be on everyday but probably only for a few hours in the evening.”
“Totally understandable,” Alburet agreed.
“Wish we could just play for a month or year at a stretch, but Mindblown hasn't even started trials on that yet. I thought they would have been pushing those boundaries by now,” Marysue sighed. “Oh, well. Maybe in five years they will get there.”
A snort came from Alburet as he tried to hold in his laughter, “You might want to keep an eye on the news over the next couple of days, then.”
Brows furrowed, Gerald eyed him, “Why do you say that?”
Karen cut in, “Because Mindblown is starting month long immersion testing in two weeks.”
Marysue gasped, “Are you serious?”
“Yes,” Alburet said. “They started sending out emails to people just today apparently. The news will be all over the web soon, if it isn’t already.”