“I’ll get a meal together for us,” Stacia said, as she moved into the kitchen.
Alburet was sitting in his normal spot when Fluff came out wearing a modest sundress, followed by Karen just barely wearing a decidedly not modest mini-dress. Alburet stood up, bowing to them both. “You both look lovely, and I think the contrasting styles suit you each very well.” Stacia turned off the burner on the stove and she and Alburet went to get their own showers. “We shouldn’t be long.”
“The soup be ready, feel free to sup while we shower,” Stacia told them as she went past, “just in case we be longer then he thinks.” She winked at Karen as they passed each other.
Alburet shook his head at Karen’s laughter, following Stacia into the master bedroom. “Not right now, dear Kitten. We can see about that once the raffle is done and you’ve helped Fluff.”
“Ya nay be lettin’ me have me fun,” Stacia mock pouted at him. “Mayhap I need to call in Karen for reinforcements,” she added as he finished undressing them both.
Alburet paused, “Kitten, I’m thinking over what happened this morning, but please don’t push. Not right now.”
She glided up to him and embraced him gently, “As ya wish, me master. I know what ya heart yearns for, though. I can feel ya excitement when ya look at her, I can smell ya pheromones spike when ya catch her eyeing ya back. Ya hold back due to ya father’s words, and there be no need to here. Ya tell me ya can nay leave Alpha World, tha’ this be where ya will spend the rest of ya life. Ya father himself told ya to find ya own path. I will do me best to abide as ya come to terms with it, but do nay hold back ya own wishes. Ya and me will both be happier iffin ya do nay.”
He held her as she spoke, resting his chin on her head where it was pressed into his chest. He had grown an inch or two during the transformation, making it possible to hold her like this. “I’m working on it, Kitten. I truly am, but you’re asking me to set aside a fundamental part of the way I was raised and the words of the man I admired most. Even with the truth of his letter revealed to me, as well as the memory, it’s still hard.”
“Aye,” she pulled back just enough to look up at him. “Tonight, after I help Fluff, I be thinkin’ I can help ya reclaim some memories ya have lost. A few from ya childhood, mayhap?”
“That seems like an okay place to start,” he told her softly, still somewhat afraid of what he might eventually see as his memories were reclaimed. “We need to get showered so we can make it to the raffle.”
“Aye,” Stacia said as she let him go. “I will give ya a quick wash, then. I promise to mostly behave.”
Laughing, Alburet took a seat on the stool she guided him to, “At least you’re being honest, Kitten.”
While she washed him, Alburet’s mind drifted back to sharing the shower with her and Karen. He remembered how happy they’d been, which made him wonder why he was denying them all the same happiness now. He was pulled from his reverie by a soft kiss, “Ya be done, master.”
He returned the favor for her, washing her quickly, with only a moment of play when he pinched her hard tips. “My hands slipped,” he chuckled at her soft moan.
“I be payin’ ya back for tha’ later,” she pouted as he finished rinsing her.
“Kitten…” He trailed off and shook his head, “Later, sorry, not good timing.”
“Ya be wonderin’ about how me kind be able to help ya and Fluff?”
He met her gaze and nodded once, “Yes, but maybe we can talk about it tonight.”
“I can tell ya now,” she said simply as she took the towel and dried him. “All we know is tha’ the Dark Lord gave us this gift. We do nay know why, and he has never said. Mayhap ya can ask him iffin ya get to speak with him again.”
Snorting, Alburet shook his head, “Fair enough.”
They went back out to the main room dressed in simple clothing. Fluff was curled up on a sofa with Karen, who was gently rubbing her ears. “You didn’t drag him to the floor for some fun?” Karen asked Stacia.
“Nay, he promised me more iffin I be strong enough to wait for later,” Stacia said as she dished out soup for Alburet and herself.
Alburet didn’t contradict her as he dug into the soup, acting as if he was ignoring the byplay. The soup was a simple chicken and noodle soup with hints of garlic. He finished his soup without replying to any of the banter the women were trading. He carried his empty bowl to the kitchen and washed it, along with Stacia’s bowl when she handed it to him. He turned around to find Karen, Fluff and Stacia all waiting by the door for him. “First time in my life three women were all waiting on me.”
“Not as I recall,” Karen smirked, “you got Stacia, Stacia’s Copy and me all at once as I recall. The three of us all waited on you to…”
“Okay,” Alburet coughed, shaking his head. “I stand corrected.”
“Aye, ya stood tall and proud, iffin me memory serves right,” Stacia added.
“You two together are a dangerous combination,” Alburet replied as he opened the door for them.
“Yes, and you liked it that way,” Karen said, taking Fluff’s arm as they left the house.
He watched them go, his lips tightening slightly as her words stirred up his inner turmoil. Stacia leaned in and took his arm, speaking softly, “Let it go for now, Asthore. We need to be happy for the raffle and the question to come about the keep.”
Nodding, sighed as he shut the door behind them, “Okay. You’re right, Kitten.”
The guild hall was packed. Side boards lined the walls, piled high with food and drink. Kim and Vanessa stood by the back door, talking with various people. Once Alburet, Karen, Fluff, and Stacia had entered, Gerald cleared his throat loudly and called for silence from near the desk. As the noise ebbed, he raised a hand to get everyone to focus on him.
“Fellow Alpha Company members, welcome to our first raffle. We’re considering doing this again if you all enjoy the night,” he paused as people applauded the idea. As the applause died down he went on, “Our guild leader, Alburet, is here. Alburet, if you want to take over the presentation?”
Alburet followed Karen and Fluff to the desk, and the guild officers arranged themselves to either side of him. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming. I’m sure you’re all aware of the announcement about housing and guild buildings earlier today.” He had to pause as people started talking excitedly. He called for silence again after a minute so he could continue. “You all know that there are keeps out in the Dead Lands waiting to be claimed. I have a plan to give us the opportunity to take one, if you’re with me in this endeavor.”
Chatter sprang up again all over the room. Calling for quiet once more, Alburet continued, “A show of hands then, people who do not wish to put our lives on the line out in the Dead Lands for the chance at a keep.” He waited a moment, but no one raised their hands. “Right. All those in favor of making the attempt, raise them up.” Everyone raised their hands, including the Alpha World natives who’d been invited into the guild. “Okay. I’ll speak to some of my contacts and see if they can get us to one of the keeps. Be warned though, we will not be using others once we go inside. If we want a keep, we will clear it on our own. Only Alpha Company will assault the keep. Are you with me?”
A cheer rose up, echoing in the room and rattling the walls. He held up his hands, eventually climbing onto the desk so he could get them all to quiet down. “All right. Pay attention to the guild announcements over the next few days. The quests for the zones and dungeons are officially paused until we have accomplished this new goal.” He tapped his UI and froze the quests, having looked at it earlier. “Tonight, though we’re here to give you all a chance at more gear, collected by your officers and myself. Tickets have been sold and we’ll start the drawing in just a moment. Keep in mind that we will do this again, and you are all free to donate items. Speak to Kim about doing so. In the coming months, some of you will drop from long term testing and others will come in. You will always have a home here in Alpha Company, and anything you give over will help newer members of Alpha Company get a leg up.”