Mature Content Warning: A bit of foul language

Author's Note: Since some people have asked me to actually show more of what is going on outside of the main character, I've decided to test the waters by not skipping the addition of this scene. There are several scenes in earlier chapters that were not shown here because of complaints about too much 'world-building'. (We're missing something close to ten scenes right now because of complaints like this. They will appear in the commercial version.)

For the record, I mostly write character-driven stories. I consider the real 'plot' of most of my stories to be the character interactions and how they deal with the things that are going on around them. Everything else is background noise.

There will be fight scenes and actual dangerous elements soon, but it's the characters and their interactions that I focus on because that's what I do. If you dislike that sort of story telling, then this is not the story for you. There are many wonderful plot-driven stories in the world, give them a try. :)

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Chapter 21.2: Operation Sexy Justice

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The escape from retail hell had not come without cost. Scott and Ashton became the talk of the store when they were seen leaving together at the same time. The idle gossip was only that, at the moment, but it was quite telling regarding the thoughts of many of the people there.

Erin looked at Kenna then snorted. “You really think that’s it?”

“Hell yeah, girl.” said Kenna before she finished eating her second lunch. No one needed to know that she had already taken her lunch early. She was even still on the clock.

“Come on, just because he’s lost a little weight?” asked Erin.

“A little? Come on, you’ve seen him! The guy looks like he lives in the gym now.” said Kenna. She took a bite of her sandwich then sighed. It wasn’t the same when she had to pay for it herself.

Erin made a goofy face. “Oh yes, he does.”

“Yeah, seriously. Who knew he’d look like that if he dropped a few pounds?”

Sandra snickered at her. “I thought you had a boyfriend?”

Erin glanced over to her. “I can have a pet and still want to play with neighborhood dogs.”

Kenna choked on her sandwich a little. Erin said the craziest things at times.

Sandra rolled her eyes then started patting Kenna on the back. “You really need to work on your gag reflex girl.”

Kenna glared at her but her expression was less effective due to the fact that she was still choking on a sandwich that she had to buy with her own money. Oh, the indignity of it all.

“I wonder how he did it?” asked Erin seriously.

Sandra shrugged. “Maybe it has to do with the dream world? My cousin used to look like a beached whale, but she spent a lot of time fighting monsters and training her dancing skills in the dream world.”

“She lost a lot of weight just doing that?” asked Erin excitedly.

“She still looks like a bulldog in the face, but the rest of her is doing alright.” replied Sandra before she tore into another one of her microwaved chicken wings.

Kenna stopped choking long enough to take a sip of her energy drink. Afterward she asked, “Do you really think that’s what it is, though? Why would they leave together?”

“You mean, instead of him leaving with you?” asked Sandra snidely.

Kenna flashed her engagement ring at the girl. Sandra snorted then said, “You’re engaged. We get it.”

“You’re just a little too excited when he gives you free food.” said Erin.

Kenna frowned at her then waved her ring hand around rapidly. They should be able to see the ring on her hand, right?

“Ladies, ladies, no need to fear. I have arrived.” said Eric as he walked into the break room.

“I thought I smelled two hundred pounds of bullshit.” said Sandra with a friendly smile.

Eric stuck out his tongue at her in a display of absolute maturity. “You didn’t complain last night.”

Sandra snorted. “You wish.”

“Damn right.” said Eric.

Sandra glanced over to Kenna. “Show that bitch your ring hand.”

Kenna flashed her engagement ring at Eric and he laughed. “Keep waving it at me and I’ll kiss it in a minute.”

Kenna wiggled her hand even more. Eric leaned forward to make good on his promise and she snatched her hand away with a smile.

Mark, one of the workers in the backroom, came in for lunch then and sat down at the table. “Sweet, I get to eat with the cool kids.”

“Hell yeah.” said Erin.

“So, did you see Scott putting in that overtime earlier?” Eric asked Mark.

“No, he’s getting overtime? I barely get thirty hours.”

Sandra snickered. “Well, I don’t think he’s on the clock right now.”

“Huh?” asked Mark. He hopped up then went to the refrigerator to get his lunch. The conversation continued around him while he went about the task of sticking it in the microwave.

“So, he was called in just to spend time with Tits in her office and then they left together?” asked Mark.

“Yeah, they were holding hands.” said Eric.

“No... I didn’t see that.” said Erin.

He turned to look at her then nodded. “Yeah, I saw them through the window in the food court.”

“You know it’s only a food court when you’re in a mall right?” said Mark.

“Really? What’s it called here?” asked Eric.

The two guys continued to discuss the topic of proper names for a dining establishment inside of the Archer’s building until Erin exclaimed, “Focus! Focus!”

“Hmm?” asked Eric.

“Holding hands! Remember?”

Eric reached out and took Erin’s hand. “Sure, anything for my harem.”

Erin snatched her hand back like it was on fire. “Not what I meant and Eww.”

Eric glanced at Kenna and she flashed her engagement ring before she said, “Engaged.”

He glanced at Sandra and she snorted then said, “Bring it near me and I’ll pickle it in a jar.”

“Fair enough.” he said before he turned to Mark.

Mark batted his eyelashes and said, “I never knew you cared.”

Eric blinked twice then looked back to Sandra. “What kind of vinegar you use in that?”

Everyone shared a laugh after that. Eric preferring to have his dill pickled rather than enter into a harem relationship with Mark was enough to change the topic from Scott and Ashton to Eric being a horny idiot. Lunch break continued for the small group of work friends and the topic shifted to the dream world, a subject they often discussed recently when they managed to take lunch together.

“Erin warrior princess, huh?” asked Mark.

“Yeah, I can only afford leather armor so that sort of fits.” said Erin.

“Money isn’t that hard to get.” said Eric.

“No, but anything really good costs a fortune. It took me a month just to scrape up enough money to buy premium leather armor.” she said.

“Hell, I’m still using ratty old crap that I find on monsters.” said Mark.

“You guys still out at that tiny farm town?” asked Kenna.

“Yeah. I’m still surprised that we both ended up near there.” said Mark.

“We should all try to get together in the dream world.” said Eric.

“Why?” asked Sandra.

“Can’t have my girls be lonely.” said Eric.

Erin said, “Eww.”

Kenna said, “Engaged.”

Sandra said, “Pickle Jar.”

“Hey, you’re a mercenary, right?” Kenna asked Mark.

Mark nodded to her while he took a sip of his drink. “Yeah, I don’t get much work since my equipment is shit and my level is low. If I were in a bigger town I’d probably starve.”

“Because you suck?” asked Sandra.

“Yeah. I only get jobs where I am because I’m the only mercenary around.” he said.

“At least you get it. I’m mostly stuck in town.” said Kenna.

“That’s right. The monsters in your area are all like level twenty or higher, right?” asked Erin.

“Yeah, it sucks. I can’t hurt them at all so I spend all my time wandering around town doing odd jobs or training my skills.” said Kenna.

“That’s good, though.” said Mark.

“Huh? How? I just made it to level two yesterday.” said Kenna.

“The guy who helped me get the mercenary profession title told me that my skills are more important than my level. Turns out he was right.”

“Really? So, I don’t suck?” asked Kenna.

“Ask me nice and we can talk about It.” said Eric.

Kenna glanced at him but did not bother to show him her ring hand. “Erin.”

“Ewww.” said Erin, on queue.

Mark laughed a little then said, “Yeah, if you want to be able to fight properly in the future you need at least three levels in your combat skills per level. So, if you can get your fighting skills to say, level 60, you can fight the weaker level twenty monsters even at level one.”

“Sixty? I’ll be old and dried up by then!” exclaimed Kenna.

“Try getting in with a merchant group or something that is traveling to another town. It’ll take a long time to increase your skill levels if you don’t get to an area with weaker monsters.” said Erin.

“Well, I have saved up some pocket money from my odd-jobs.” said Kenna. She had actually considered that before, but she was nervous about traveling with people she did not know.

“What about you Sandra?” asked Erin.

“I’m doing alright.” she said casually.

“Make friends with any chipmunks today?” asked Eric.

Sandra glanced at him. “No.”

Eric laughed. “Who would have thought that you would go all Disney Princess?”

“What are you implying?” asked Sandra.

“Well, you chose to be some kind of singing nature girl, right?” he asked.

“I’m a druid.” she said.

“Yeah, you talk to animals and sing.” said Eric.

Sandra’s left eyelid began to twitch. She had no response to that. She was sort of like a Disney princess now that she thought of it.