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>>43581575
"Aye Yuuki, what's up?"

She pats Keiko's head, ruffling her hair and ears sightly. Yuuki always seemed to be the best member of the team to deal with kids.

"It's about Kayda. She was acting strange last night."
"Aye, how is that strange? She doesn't seem to like or trust anyone."

"No, no. I mean she was acting worse than usual."

"Not surprising, Lass. Ye did put her in an uncomfortable-"

Wait! No! You shouldn't say that!

"..I did this?" She looks worried.
"Err, no, no. Aye mean, ye did bring out an uncomfortable side of her. What was so unusual this time?"

That was a close one.

"She was talking last night about.. being replaced. Then about Konditorei's maid. Like the maid was going to find someone to replace HER. I'm worried, Jack. I think the maid might be threatening and abusing her when we're not around."

"Yuuki, Yuuki. Listen. First off, kids exaggerate things. That's what they do. Secondly, we already know she's half paranoid. Before ye go say somethin, ask the maid first."
"Ask her, what!? 'Hey, are you going to replace your nation's hero because you're a two-faced bitch'?"

"Listen, we can look into it, but aye think we should also focus on-"

>Friends, Kayda just needs friends, like Keiko.
>Activities, Kayda should focus on somethin' besides the maid.
>Training, She needs discipline.
>Hobbies, Like, er, fishing?
>I don't know.
>Other?

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>>43581592
>>Friends, Kayda just needs friends, like Keiko.

>>43581592
>>Friends, Kayda just needs friends, like Keiko.

Tough night!

>Friends, Kayda just needs friends, like Keiko.

Writing!

>>43581954
Eh, we all have them rough days.

>>43581592
>Friends, Kayda just needs friends, like Keiko.

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"..Friends, yar. Kayda just needs friends. Someone she can relate to."
"Friends.." Yuuki thinks back on it. "You know, the only person I think I've ever seen her even talk to on her own was Louise."

"Yar! that's a good starting point. Maybe she needs more friends who are her age than just Louise, too."

Your glance turns toward Keiko.
"'ey Keiko, wanna go to the castle today?"
"Yay!"

"Eh? Jack? Are you sure about this? I mean, what if Kayda hurts Keiko's feelings?"

"She's right." Atsuko groggily pokes her head out from around the entrance of the shrine, "I know you like your crazy quick-fix plans, but don't hurt Keiko's feelings just because Kayda is being a moody little girl. I'm going to hold you personally responsible if Keiko doesn't come back just as happy as she is right now."

Keiko continues to hop around, the only part of the situation you think she's absorbed was 'friends' and 'castle'.

"'Ey, 'ey. No harm in tryin'. I mean. Keiko is outgoing, she made friends with Louise the first time she met her. Kayda just needs someone to break her out of that shell."
"And if it doesn't work? Then what?"

"Aye'll be right there. I won't let it get too mean-"

"Jack." Atsuko is rubbing her mussed-up ears. "Are you serious? Do you seriously not know how girls work? They're not going to do anything nasty while you're standing RIGHT THERE. She's going to wait until she can't get caught, and this Kayda person is way stronger than Keiko."
"It worked great with Louise, though."
"Yeah, because we were watching her for two days straight."

"Fine, then-"

>You come along, if you're such an expert.
>Madeleine, be my little girl expert here.
>We'll think of something else.
>We'll bring Kayda to the shrine!
>'ey, maybe we should do some other activity with the little girls.
>>Like hunting, Aye bet Kayda is good at that
>>Or fishing
>>Or.. something
>Other?

>>43582255
>Madeleine, be my little girl expert here.

>>43582255
>>Madeleine, be my little girl expert here.

>>43582255
>>You come along, if you're such an expert.
>>Madeleine, be my little girl expert here.

>>Madeleine, be my little girl expert here.

Going about as I expected.
Writing.

>>43582699
blame fallout4

>>43582693
You know what? sure.

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"'Ey Madeleine." You turn to her, she twitches the end of her tail eagerly. "Be my little girl-"

"I DO!" She springs over and wraps around you.
"No No! Wait! I mean-"

"I know, I know. Come understand the complicated minds of little girls." She playfully edges at your collar. "I just couldn't resist, though!"

"T-that's nice, Madeleine." You laugh, nervously. She untangles from around you as Atsuko breathes a sigh.

"Don't flirt in front of Keiko, I don't want you two to corrupt her."

"'ey, If yer worried about us corruptin' her, why not come along?"

"Do we really need four, five people going along for this?" She puts her hands on her hips.

"Only if ye think we need a responsible adult."
At that moment, Madeleine decides to start pulling at your collar again.
You think it's with her mouth, but you dare not turn to find out.

"Fine." She stamps her foot. "I think Kayda needs the guidance of more mature ladies like Yuuki and I anyway."

You think you just heard Madeleine stifle a laugh, but you ignore her.

--

The castle is as unassuming as ever.
Guards struggle to keep their eyes open.
Merchants continue their bored trek in and out of the front gate.

Louise is still chasing small animals with her big axe.
You should really think about breaking her of that habit.

But, you have a little bit of time. Everyone has split up to pick up various things around town. Yuuki rushed to her room to inform her summoner that she hasn't ran away, Atsuko left for the bar to see if Camille is still living at the bottom of a bottle, Madeleine left to see if a 'message' arrived for her and you didn't question past that.

Which just leaves you and Keiko for the next few minutes. Unless there's someone you want to follow.

>Follow someone?
>Nope! Jack and Keiko time!
>Hey Louise! Leave those squirrels alone and come talk.
>Other?

>>43583184
>>Nope! Jack and Keiko time!

>>43583184
>>Nope! Jack and Keiko time!

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>>43583184
>"Be my little girl-"
>"I DO!

This is a dangerous snek.

>>43583184
>Hey Louise! Leave those squirrels alone and come talk.

>>43583184
>Hey Louise! Leave those squirrels alone and come talk.

>>43583184
>Hey Louise! Leave those squirrels alone and come talk.

Madeliene, you sure have changed quite a bit since the swamp, eh? Here you are being so great.

>>43583270
I'm just waiting for when she starts jumping into our bed like Miia from Monmusu.

>>43583184
>"I DO!" She springs over and wraps around you.
Snap. Other girls, step your game the hell up!

>>43583388
With her stealth skills, Jack will never know when she will ambush him. And that's part of the fun.

Connection issues JUSt as the thread picks up steam. Great!

>Hey Louise! Leave those squirrels alone and come talk!

Writing!

>>43583418
Poor lucky Jack. I shudder to think how the girls would get during the mating season.

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>>43583270
>This is a best snek.
FTFY

>>43583498
Being jack is truly suffering.

>>43583566
It's a good pain.

>>43583566
Lets hope none of the girls try to double team him.

>>43583617
He'll be lucky if it's only double

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>>43583554
But them fluffy tails, man.

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"'ey Louise!" You walk over and get the axe-with-arms-and-legs' attention. "Leave those squirrels alone, and come talk!"

Her face forms a sort-of irritated pout upon being interrupted, but then immediately lights up when she sees Keiko.

"KEIKO!" She starts a running gait, axe still dragging behind her.
As per usual, Keiko seems cautious at first before being absolutely sure that axe is staying behind Louise and not swinging over her head.

Then she sighs, running over and happily beginning to chat with her friend.

"Get those squirrels, today!?"
"Close! I almost got one but the guards told me to stop chopping the trees!"
"Darn!"
"Next time! Definitely next time!"

She glances at Keiko, and then over toward you.
"What are you two doing here? Is she going to train with us?"

"I- Didn't even thinka that. No, We're here to see Kayda."
"Aww." Louise seems a little dejected. "She's been acting like a stick in the mud all day. Hiding in her room."

"Think ye can get her to come play?"

"I can try! But. Do you really want her to come play? I don't think she's the playing kind."

"Yar, sure. No harm in tryin', right?"

She thinks about it for a second, and then happily claps her hands.
"Sure! Let me go ask her!"

With a hop, she takes off toward the castle. You sometimes forget how spooky it is watching a kid, roughly half of your height, burst forward with such superhuman speed.
Keiko seems a little surprised too, if the way she's clasping your hand is any indication.

"Now what?"

>Wanna go get a treat or somethin', when she gets back?
>Let's go talk to some of the castle staff, haven't seen them in a while.
>Hey, maybe trainin' is a good idea. Ye have a set of daggers, right?
>other?

Unrelated question: Did they take off the 2000 character limit on posts? I'm not running up against it tonight (unlike every other night where I'm constantly editing and checking to fit)

>>43583753
>>Wanna go get a treat or somethin', when she gets back?

>>43583753
>Let's go talk to some of the castle staff, haven't seen them in a while.

>>43583753
>>Wanna go get a treat or somethin', when she gets back?

>>43583753
>Let's go talk to some of the castle staff, haven't seen them in a while.

>>43583753
>Wanna go get a treat or somethin', when she gets back?

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>touch the fluffy tail

>>43584011
>not scale tail

Anon pls

>Wanna go get a treat or somethin', when she gets back?
Writing!

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>>43584025
Touching the scale tail may lead to a... busy night.

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"Hey Keiko." You kneel down to about her eye level. "I want ye to be on yer best behavior with Kayda, okay? She's had it rough the last few months."
"Okay."

"I'm serious, tho. If she hurts yer feelins, or, god forbid, tries ta hurt ye. I want you to protect yerself. You come before friends, understand?"

"Um, okay. I think?"

"Good!" You stand back up to your feet. "Just remember, take it easy with her, don't let her push ye around."

Just as you say that, you hear a surprised yelp from a woman near the gate.
"Careful!" She seems to scold an unknown set of figures.

Or at least, a figure. Louise seems to be dragging Kayda so fast that she's practically flying by her hand.

"Louise! Wait! Slow down! Stop!"

She screeches to a halt just before she collides face-first into your legs. Then she turns around and shakes Kayda's hands.
"Play! Play! Play!"
"What do you want, STOP!" Kayda slaps her hands away.

"Hey, hey. You two. Louise. Did you ask her first before taking her?"
"Oh, I guess I forgot that part."

"Darn it, Kayda, we're sorr-"

Kayda waves her hands, "No no, it's fine. This is training, isn't it? Always be prepared?"
She turns around and huffs. "So what's today's training, then? Fighting a wendigo with our hands tied? Moving a mountain stone-by-stone?"

"Wanna go get treats, in town?"

She's silent.
"What treats?"

"Like, err."
Why do they always ask the hard questions?

"Cookies? Cakes?"
"Ca-ke?" Her eyes seem to flash. "Okay. Sure!"

That was, deceptively easy.

>We're in town, what else do you think you should look for?
>Maybe new clothes?
>Maybe one of your accomplices who wandered off?
>Maybe more weapons?
>They serve food at the bar, right?
>Wait, wait, kids, bar, old habits. never mind.
>Other?

>>43584250
>>We're in town, what else do you think you should look for?
>>Maybe new clothes?

>>43584250
>Maybe new clothes?
Keiko needs more than her shrine uniform. Plus it be good girl bonding. Maybe.

>Maybe new clothes?

Writing last post of the night!

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You slowly wrangle the little entourage of children toward the general direction of the bakery. Of course, Louise and Keiko happily stop and gawk at all of the storefronts through the entirety of the town.

Kayda, on the other hand, continues to walk beside you and mope.
"'ey, somethin' wrong?"
"No! no." She would hesitantly gasp before continuing to focus on her feet once more.

You, as much as anyone, knows that's a flat-out lie. You decide not to pursue it any further, since there's no need in driving Kayda off.

The bakery is bustling with children, which the three fit right in. Kayda continues to mope, even after buying a set of pastries and having a very unhealthy brunch. You're starting to worry if it might be an emotional thing. You have about as much luck with fixing feelings as you do fixing bars.

"Hey." you nudge Kayda. Something just gave you an idea. "Ye need clothes? I notice ye only wear that one leather dress. And-"

You reach over, and with a quick grasp, grab Keiko.
"You need more clothes than just your shrine maiden uniform. Y'know, Aye thought girls always had like ten sets of clothes or something."

Both of them stare at you, like you're insane.
"Ten sets?" Keiko seems worried.
"I don't think my whole family had ten sets to split between them."

"C'mon, yer heroes now. Royalty! Let's get ye somethin' that looks nice. You too, Louise!"

>Cont.

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The woman in charge of the clothing department swirls around the girls, taking their measurements.
It's hard to imagine a woman that fluffy is in charge of a clothing store. You're practically drowning in loose hair. Her fluffy tail swishes around at the air. At one point you catch it and tell her to stop, much to her surprise.
She struggles to keep Louise and Keiko still, as Kayda continues her statue impression. You give them privacy and step back into the main lobby when the woman starts taking off their clothes.
Even then, Keiko tries to follow you while half-naked. It takes coaxing to keep her in the dressing room.

You hear a slight bell, and head toward the door.

"Clothes? That's surprisingly smart of you, Jack."
Strangely enough, Atsuko managed to track you down.

"What, ye think aye don't know that girls love clothes?"
"I didn't think you would have gone anywhere that didn't serve alcohol."

She's only half-right.

"How's it going?"
"Yuuki was right, somethin' really is bothering Kayda."

"Did she say something about it?"
"Nah. Just more mopin'. Did ye find Camille and yer sis?"
"That's why I came to talk to you."

Uh oh. Smells like work.

"Listen, remember when Gallete castle was kidnapped?"
"Remember? It happened this week."

"Well, yeah- but" She blushes, "ANYWAY! Gallete's scouts went to ensure no more traps of that kind were placed in the castle."
"And?"
"And- There's something living there now. Big. They couldn't see what. Just that it had wings. Camille went to have a look."

Oh, you know where this is going.

>Cont.

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"Is thar gold at the castle?"
"Hm? Yes."
"Dragon."

Yar. You know the story by now. It's one of your favorite.

"Awha?"
"Dragon, of course. Aye expected to find a dragon or a kraken eventually. Kinda glad it's the dragon."

You take your flask out and have a swig from it.

"Welp. Good luck to Gallete and Camille."
"Wait, hold on, don't you heroes like- solve problems and stuff?"

"Lass." You holster your flask. "I solved those problems because they were my problems. This is Gallete's problem."
She stares at you, coldly.
"Jack."

"Lass, Gallete's problem is Gallete's problem. Aye'm not the only capable person in the world. Akiko and Camille are on it, and yknow what? Gallete has their own fighting force. And their own hero! Let Catland take care of Catland."
"Jaaack."

"Besides, Gallete has their own hero to call on, and Aye'm sure they'll bring that hero up to speed, we'll say our goodbyes, and it'll be taken care of. No problem!"

"Jack!"

Atsuko slowly raises her arm up to point behind you. You spin around to see an interesting scene.

Kayda, wearing only her underwear, desperately tries to escape Louise, wearing only her laugh. Louise tries to shove this flowery, silky dress over Kayda's head. They both move at paces far too fast for the dressing woman to keep up with. Louise is almost doubling over in laughter as she runs naked across the whole store for the few patrons to view.

"There's Gallete's hero, Jack. Why don't you go tell her she has to fight a dragon alone?"

Argh, you forgot.
You might be the only capable one.

>Thread End

Thanks for the thread everyone. Sorry about the somewhat slow pace.

But hey! Things happening! Been a while since that, huh?

Thanks to everyone who participated, let me know what you thought.

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>>43585038
What am I doing forgetting my closing image?

>>43585038
thanks for running

>>43585038
thanks for running boss

>>43585038
Thanks for running Announcer, see you round.

>>43585038
Good show, boss. I look forward to dragon tussling.

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>>43585132
What do you think dragon tails are like to touch?

>>43585038
Boy, it sure seems like we have to bail out these cats quite a bit. This is what? The third or fourth time? Damn incompetent felines.

They should just label us as an honorary hero there and let us drink free there forever. I would also be fine settling just for the free drinks.

>>43585038
Thanks for running!