Chapter Ten: In-Game Attraction
The game had been temporarily paused for a couple of minutes as Jackson got up to fetch Valerie a glass of ice water. Sitting back down and placing the glass on the coffee table, the young man smirked over at Manson.
"Would you like some additional protection?"
"I don't like him, guard," Manson immediately said, looking Jackson up and down as if examining him. "He's covered in dirt and sweat."
"All from a hard day's work," Jackson responded, sinking into the couch's back support with a calm smile.
Valerie followed Manson's example and scanned the man next to her, pursing her lips.
"At least he's not covered in anything worse, my liege. Besides, the monsters roaming these areas have been tougher than anything we faced. I fear they are going to get nothing but stronger from here on out. I think we can use all the help we can get."
"Okay," the large man caved in, then added, "They can eat him."
Jackson chuckled in amusement.
"I would appreciate some respect."
"Respect? What's that?"
"I'm pretty good at kicking things, too," Tatiana cut in. "Why don't I come along?"
"If ladies are going, so am I," Gray joined.
"And I need to keep an eye on him," Jerry spoke up, nodding in Gray's direction. "He owes me special favors."
Valerie opened her mouth to say something, but closed it as a thought dawned upon her.
"Wait a moment. I forgot to ask-is my character a man, or a woman? There are female guards, yes?"
"My character thought you were a lady," Gray answered.
"Princess Manly would only have a female companion," stated the portly man with a dose of finality.
With that answered, Valerie nodded once.
"I wanted to make sure. In that case, yes, I don't mind having male companions, but I must stress-for the safety of my charge-that we sleep separately from the men. I do have a tent for the princess and I to share, but just for the two of us."
"That's fine," said Jackson.
"I sleep in my potato cart," piped Tatiana, moving her fingers to scratch at her Espurr's chest.
"Very well then. So long as we have the sleeping arrangements settled."
Manson took a cursory glance at each of the other men in the group.
"If any of you men cross any lines, my guard will smash your face."
"Oh, you don't have to worry about that from me," said Jerry, then nodded over to Jackson. "Or farmer Jackson."
"I'm a good boy," came the younger man's response, putting on his most innocent smile.
A few more minutes elapsed then the group's attention was averted as Fraxure, garbed in a poofy chef hat and an apron, walked into the room with a plate of fresh brownies.
A wide smile played at the Pokemon's trainer's face at the sight of the treats.
"Thanks, Fraxure! Those look delicious!"
Valerie had to admit that the sight was unusual, but the dragon certainly looked adorable in the garments he was wearing. Not to mention he was carrying a plate of brownies. Pokemon were commonly trained to fetch things for trainers, but did he actually make these?
"Did Fraxure make those, Jackson?"
"He sure did! Fraxure's a great baker!" he answered with a great deal of pride, causing a flattered blush to touch the Pokemon's cheeks.
As Fraxure came up to Valerie's side of the couch to offer her a brownie, the woman brushed her hand over his snout.
"So cute and talented!" she praised and leaned in to plant a kiss on his nose.
Fraxure's blush deepened. Allowing each human to take a brownie, he set the plate down in front of the chips before running off, presumably to play with the other Pokemon.
"You know… Valerie, if you want to let your Pokemon out, you can. The others… are playing in the backyard," Jackson offered and took a bite out of his brownie.
"All right. Thank you, Jackson."
Standing, she departed the room and found her way to the backyard where the rest of them were. Getting out her Poke' Balls, she released Mawile, Mr. Mime, and Sylveon. Upon being released, the Eeveelution immediately scampered up to Shelgon to nuzzle her while Mawile tottered towards Aron. Shelgon blinked in mild surprise and sighed, allowing the attention. Aron was absolutely delighted to see Mawile, rubbing his head into her abdomen.
Among the Pokemon were two that didn't belong to Jackson or Valerie. A Furfrou and a Marowak, judging by the Seviper tattoo that matched Manson's, belonged to the middle-aged man. Sylveon and Mr. Mime smiled in a friendly manner, but Mawile seemed to be a little intimidated by the Marowak. He still seemed friendly enough and waved a greeting. Nodding to the three newcomers, the Ground-type resumed playing with Fraxure and Dratini. Curious, Furfrou stepped closer to sniff Mr. Mime. The fairy blinked, before waving one of her large hands and proceeded to mime as if she were trapped in an invisible box. Tilting his head in confusion, the canine lifted a paw to bat at the invisible box, only to find nothing.
After getting a good look at each of the Pokemon, Valerie turned around to head back to her seat. The Furfrou, more interested in the new human, followed her.
"Did you get a look at Marowak's tat?" Manson queried as the young woman sat down.
"I did! I have to admit, I wasn't expecting to see a tattooed Pokemon."
"I run a tattoo parlor," the man revealed. "Recently got into makin' tats for Pokemon, and Marowak was more than happy to get one."
"I see." Valerie bit into her brownie, chewed, and swallowed before speaking again. "I never heard of Pokemon getting tattoos before."
"Neither have I. The business is good. People come by from other towns just to get their Pokemon tattooed," he said, smirking as his wife's Furfrou slipped past Gray to climb into Jackson's lap.
Grinning, Jackson stuffed the rest of his brownie into his mouth and slid an arm around the Pokemon. He took note of the extra softness, coming to the conclusion that he had been very recently bathed.
"My character tries to charm Valerie's again," said Gray and rolled the die, coming up short on a nine. "Usually I'm so good with the ladies."
Tatiana giggled and consumed the remains of her brownie.
"Today just isn't your day."
"Princess Manly wants to go adventuring now," Manson spoke up, taking a couple of chips from the bowl.
"I have a Tauros and a herd of Miltank to ride on," Jackson suggested.
"Princess Manly ain't riding on a Miltank."
"I head to the stables to steal Ponyta for the rest of us." Rolling the die, Gray beamed at the high number. "About time."
"You succeed, but I don't approve of stealing," said Jackson and took another bite of his brownie.
"I'm too busy playing my drum to care," said Tatiana.
A frown pulled down at Valerie's lips.
"I scold Gray, admonishing him for his actions. I check my purse to see how much gold I have. How much are the Ponyta?"
Gray let out a huff of a chuckle.
"I already stole them, but I'll take the gold."
"I keep my gold, and decide to keep a very close watch on our party's thief. I do not trust his being around the princess."
"I mount one of the Ponyta," said Manson.
"I hitch one up to my potato cart and climb in and continue playing my drum," Tatiana followed.
"I choose to go back to my farm to get my Tauros," said Jackson and finished the last of his treat.
Valerie let out a sigh.
"I reluctantly get on the same Ponyta as the princess, sitting behind her so I can keep her safe on horseback."
There was a brief pause as the others waited for Jerry to respond, but the man was busy finishing his beer. Setting down the bottle, he spoke up.
"I also get on a Ponyta."
"We ride off." Reaching for the booklet, he thumbed through it to continue where he left off. "And we come across a horde of goblins, their leader armed with a mace."
"This should be easy," Gray proclaimed with a mischievous glimmer in his eyes. "Just ask her out on a date and she should go away!"
This little quip resulted in a laugh from Manson, Jerry, and Tatiana. Jackson smiled, entertained by the joke.
"That's usually what happens. That's why my character isn't married."
He gave the die a roll, the result being a one.
"Oooooooh! Shot down!" Gray laughed.
"And kicked in the balls!" Manson added.
Even Valerie let out a short laugh at the outcome.
"Oh, goodness. I actually take pity on Jackson's character, although I have to admit that was funny to watch."
"It's not funny to my character." Jackson chuckled, scratching the patch of fur behind one of Furfrou's ears. "He's in pain."
"Hit him in the nads again!" Manson commanded, trying his best not to snicker. "The princess doesn't want the farmer reproducing!"
The woman gave pause.
"I… actually do not listen. While I am bound to my princess, I am not one for needless cruelty. I extend my hand down to the farmer."
A gentle smile played at Jackson's lips, his fingertips moving down to the back of Furfrou's neck.
"I accept the assistance and I'm grateful I'll still get to have children."
She slid one of her hands over her abdomen, keeping her soft eyes on the man next to her.
"I smile at him and mount my Ponyta. I think he looks cute."
Jackson blushed, the others pinning him and Valerie with knowing smirks.
"D… does she? Heh… The farmer… thinks… the guard is… very beautiful…"
"Ooooooo!" came Tatiana's voice.
Now it was Valerie's turn to blush.
"It's too bad I took a vow of celibacy so long as I remain in my liege's service."
"A vow of what now?" Gray questioned, arching his brow in confusion.
"Celibacy. It means I cannot take a husband or engage in… sexual practices while under the service of my princess."
"What did you make a vow like that for?" the black-haired man inquired.
"Because she's a strong, independent woman who don't need no man," said Tatiana with a rhythmic wave of her finger.
The other woman shook her head.
"The vow is required to become part of the princess' guard. I wanted nothing more than to serve my princess. After all, she saved me from a life of destitution and poverty. I swore to protect her until my dying breath."
"That is quite a heavy back story for a game," said Jerry.
"Part of me has always dreamed of perhaps starting a family one day. It was a dream of mine before serving the princess. Though I know she would likely not release me from my duty."
"I miiiiight, if I saw you unfit to serve me," said Manson with a cheeky grin.
Valerie giggled.
"I would never break my vow of loyalty to you, my liege. You can rest assured I will always protect you."
"You can do hugs and kisses, right?" Tatiana questioned with a wink directed at her.
Again, Jackson blushed.
"I said I took a vow of celibacy. Not a vow against affection," Valerie replied, turning a wink of her own at Jackson, causing him to blush even deeper.
Manson uttered a chuckle.
"I want you to bathe yourself after every time you touch that filthy farmer."
Valerie rolled her eyes, but retained her smile.
"Yes, my liege. Of course, my liege."
"Can I watch?" Gray requested, subsequently getting smacked in the back of the head by Tatiana.
"Bad thief. No treats for you."
"We still have a horde of goblins to take care of," Manson reminded.
"They're done politely waiting and one swings a club at Gray," said Jackson, blush still staining his cheeks.
"I try to dodge," the man replied, rolling another success.
"I take my sword and lop it towards one of the goblins. I also check to see which one of them is the leader," said Valerie with a quick glare at Gray as the die was handed to her.
"The leader takes damage."
"I want the leader's mace," said Tatiana. "All I have is a drum."
"That's better than what I've got," Manson declared, taking another brownie from the stack. "I got nothing."
"You have your good looks and charisma. And your giant delicate fists."
"I openly challenge the leader to one-on-one honorable combat, and raise my sword and step forward," Valerie continued.
As Manson was given the die, he thought for a moment on how he should retaliate.
"I get in on the action. I get off my Ponyta and take off my shoe and hit a goblin in the head with it."
He lets out a grunt upon rolling a mere five.
"The goblin is annoyed," said Jackson, smirk pulling at his mouth.
Valerie giggled at the mental imagery and the die was handed to her, as the other players were temporarily busy either eating or drinking. Besides, they didn't mind their newest addition having extra turns while they ate and drank. It would get the game going faster.
"I dodge and thrust my sword in a stab at the leader."
She grinned upon rolling a thirteen.
"And you beat her! Are you going to choose to search your enemy?" Jackson asked. "You can take her mace, if you want."
The woman nodded.
"I go ahead and reach down to take the mace."
"Don't mess with her, goblins!" Tatiana cried out. "She's got mace!"
"Yeah! The more painful kind!" Gray tacked on.
Jackson chuckled.
"Another goblin attempts to take a swing at Valerie's character while mine tries to charge at another while riding on my Tauros." Taking the die from Valerie, he rolled a fourteen. "And he's trampled and I get a club!"
Finished with his second brownie, Jerry was given the die next.
"I shoot at a goblin," he said, grinning as he made a successful roll.
"I want to take a stab with my dagger," Gray declared, frowning as he rolled a failure. "I'm really off my game today."
"What are the penalties for double-wielding?" Valerie questioned, turning her attention to Jackson. "Is the mace one-handed or two-handed?"
"It's a one-handed weapon," he responded. "So you get to roll twice for both of your weapons."
She nodded in affirmation.
"I swing once with my new mace and swing again with my sword."
After she rolled twice, the man smirked.
"Double kill."
"Our guard is fantastic!" Jerry complimented with a wide berth.
Even Valerie looked a bit surprised at her luck.
"I call my order for the rest of the goblins to stand down and leave, unless they want to be slaughtered like their comrades." She paused to roll again. "I roll for intimidation."
The die landed on sixteen.
"They don't need to be told twice. They run off!" Jackson claimed.
Manson let out one more chuckle.
"And one goblin even trips over his panties."