“Something stopping you from finding out while you are here?” Bob asked, a little puzzled.
“My other life is very complicated, no relationship will work for me there.”
“What does that have to do with this world?”
Alburet considered the question seriously for a time, “I don’t know, actually. I hadn’t considered maybe just trying a relationship that only existed here. Moot point I’m going to say though, I doubt Karen is really interested. I would go so far as to speculate that she’s as ballsy as she is as a front to keep guys off kilter enough that they don’t try anything.”
“Oh, you think so?” the words were breathed like soft silk in his ear as a hand gently rubbed his back.
Instinct took over. Alburet took a step forward, pivoting as his hand lashed out catching her wrist. He yanked her off balance as he completed his spin towards her, his other arm coming up to wrap around her. He was a little surprised as he was starting to apply the hold when she dropped and shifted her weight, applying pressure against his thumb to free her arm. Neither of them was entirely successful. As she dropped her weight to break the hold Alburet dropped his weight down on top of her, so even though her arm came free he ended up on top of her with his weight pinning her down.
They both froze for a second, Karen visible now as combat had broken her stealth. “Err, sorry about that, it was instinct,” Alburet said, going a touch pink as he delicately eased himself up and off of her.
“I can honestly say I wasn’t expecting you to do that,” Karen said staying on the ground for a second as he took a step away. “I was just trying to play with you and all of a sudden you’re going for a hold on me. I’m impressed.” She did a kip-up to her feet, her customary smirk back in place. “Where did you train?”
“I used to be affiliated with law enforcement. I also took classes in various dojos in the closest city to the small town I lived in. What about you? That was a very good break, well, up until I dropped on you.”
“I really didn’t expect that. As for my training, I teach in the dojo closest to my house. It’s a mix of a few different schools so I have an eclectic mix of skills.”
“So, what all did you overhear before we had a sudden sparring match?”
“That you had never considered just a VR relationship, you weren’t sure if I was serious in my offer to play with you later and you think I used a façade to keep the boys away.” She turned to face him, looking him up and down. “I will say, you are a bit rough around the edges. I see you didn’t go for the Hollywood glamour like the pretty boys do, which is in your favor, as I like rugged men. While I’m not looking for any relationship, I would not turn down a tumble or two with you. Also, this is how I always am, in game and out and yes, it does scare away the timid which helps cut down on a lot of bullshit. The others I would rather not deal with, well, let’s just say the two men who ever tried to force the issue found out just how well trained I am.” She stopped and met his eyes challengingly, “So now what do you have to say?”
Alburet felt his pulse quicken slightly, “Honestly, I’m a little afraid and very intrigued. I wouldn’t turn down the opportunity for a roll on the mat with you, in any of the ways we could mean that. I would add that the last five years or more have been very, very slow in the intimacy area for me, so I would probably disappoint you.”
Karen’s eyes sparkled, “Oh, putting the ball in my court are you? Currently we are in monster infested territory and this is not helping us with why we came here. Let me put a bookmark in this for now and we can talk later about it, right?”
Closing his eyes, Alburet swallowed and took a few deep breaths to calm his mind and body. When he opened them again he felt centered and ready to go, “As the lady wishes.”
“And in control of yourself that fast. You really are pushing my buttons now. But I’m the one who said we should hold on this, so,” she coughed once, “there’s another set of mobs just down the street from us. Two with swords, one with a bow. We should be able to take them easily if you let me get into position. Once I’m ready I’ll message you and we can kick this fight off,” she dragged out her Mindstone. “What do you say?”
Tapping his Mindstone to hers he grinned, “Let’s go play, Mynx.”
A full throated laugh came from her as she stealthed, “Ha. It’s on now.”
Alburet watched the shimmer that was Karen go gliding away down the street. He lost her a few buildings away and looked at his mini-map, noting her enter a building six down from where he stood. “Six buildings down on the right,” Alburet said as he waited for her signal.
“I’m ready,” Tiny rumbled.
“More ready than master is for the Assassin, anyway,” Bob snickered.
Rolling his eyes as he shook his head, Alburet didn’t reply to the obvious bait. “Okay. Let’s start walking but don’t initiate combat until I say, Tiny,” Alburet said as he began to stroll down the street. When they reached the second building the message icon pop-up appeared. He checked it to find only two words, ‘I’m ready.’ Smiling, he cast Vitality and Retribution on Tiny. “You’re up, Tiny,” Alburet said once he finished casting.
With a loud roar Tiny went running down the street to the indicated house. As they reached the front of it two goblins with swords came out, pausing as they saw Tiny. Tiny didn’t give them any time to reconsider and rushed at them. His axe hacked into the one on the right as his shield bashed into the one on the left.
“Bob, focus the archer if he shows up in a window,” Alburet said as he went to the right, waiting for Tiny to land another couple of blows before he could start damaging the mob. As he waited one of Bob’s Fire Blasts smacked into the mob he was waiting to damage. When the goblin had lost a quarter of its health Alburet drew the maul up then down sharply, missing the head but solidly connecting with the shoulder. He had been right to wait as this time he didn’t pull aggro from Tiny, allowing him to swing again. This time the goblin stepped back into the building to avoid the hammer, causing Alburet to miss. “Oh, they learn. That’s going to make this harder.”
“Should I follow him?” Tiny asked, bashing his shield into the other goblin again.
“No, he doesn’t have much left,” Alburet replied, “I’ll go get him. You and Bob finish off the one out here.”
Tiny shoved the other one clear of the doorway, allowing Alburet to go into the house. A sword cut into his shoulder from beside the door as he entered the room. Hissing in pain Alburet lashed out with the maul, missing the goblin who lunged backwards to avoid it.
Alburet took advantage of the goblin’s pause and healed himself. He flexed his hand, extending just his pointer and pinking fingers before touching his chest as he said, “Burning blood.” The Demonic Vitality spell began to heal him as the goblin came forward again slowly. Alburet brought the maul up, ready to attack again. “If you drop the sword you might make it out of this alive,” Alburet said.
The goblin sneered and faked a lunge at Alburet. Alburet started to swing the maul, shifting his hands on the handle. As he had thought, the goblin had paused in its lunge and as the maul came down the goblin came in behind it. The sword creased his side, making him cuss, but Alburet had been prepared and now brought the maul up and across. The goblin was a touch slow backing up this time, catching the maul in the ribs and being tossed back a few feet.
“Oh well. Guess we do it the hard way,” Alburet sighed in relief as the slow healing spell helped cut the pain.
The goblin seemed very wary as it edged about the room trying to find an angle it liked. Suddenly it yelled in pain and spun around, presenting its back to Alburet. Taking the opportunity, he stepped forward and smashed the maul into its head, killing it. As it fell Alburet saw a bloody but grinning Karen standing there.