James had just finished giving his newest companion, Emily, the run down of his backstory.
"Oh James.. I'm so sorry.. you poor child."
Emily said with a look of immense pity.
'I'm just going to have to accept the fact everyone thinks I've been taken advantage of.. this is so not cool.'
The sun had sank in the sky, casting their secluded grove in the shadows of the trees. Realization hit James as his stomach growled.
"So ladies, is there any place around here where a guy can get something to eat?"
Veronica and Emily looked at each other then simultaneously said, "Big Mama's Tavern."
"Sounds good to me, as long as it's edible I think I could eat just about anything right now." James said as felt a dull ache deep in his stomach.
15 minutes later, the trio stood outside of a saloon style building. It had a dim glow penetrating through the shuttered style doors and raucous laughter echoed out into the darkened town streets.
James, wanting to stretch his legs had departed from Veronica's embrace and now walked forward into the restaurant, flanked by his two protectors. The laughter and easy flow of conversation lowered as James entered.
A youthful serving girl with red hair and freckles stood slack jawed for a long moment, finally as if remembering she was working she asked, "I-if you'll follow me Sir.. I can seat you.. at our uh.. best table."
'I feel like I'm bullying her while just standing here.'
"Thank you miss, that would be wonderful. Please lead the way." Trying to ease whatever panic he had caused, James gave her a warm smile.
As if he had just threatened her, the serving girl pulled the tray meant for delivering drinks and food up to her face trying to hide.
"Uuh.. well then.. um f-follow me Sir." Like a frightened cat, she turned around and then almost stumbled into one of the buildings wooden support beams. She then dashed over to a unoccupied table at the back left corner of the room.
'What did I do now..' James pondered as he strode over to the table.
Before he could pull out his chair, Emily grabbed it and did it for him. Gesturing for James to sit down, "Please, allow me to do these small things."
Acquiescing to her request, he nodded in thanks and sat. After pushing his chair back in, Emily hurriedly sat beside him. Leaving Veronica to sit opposite of them this time.
"So er.. uh Sir. What can I get for ya today."
"Hmm, do you have a menu or something? I'm not really sure." James said, pondering what sounded good.
Noticing the blank look on the serving girl, James amended his request to avoid the hassle. "Actually, how about you just give me tonight's dinner special."
"Okay then, one dinner special coming right up!" She was about to turn to leave, but seemingly just noticed James's two companions. "A-hem, and can I get anything for you two as well?"
"No" Veronica and Emily responded in unison.
Startled James said, "What? You two aren't hungry, I don't want to eat alone.."
Veronica replied, "We will eat later, we cannot be distracted while protecting you, especially with so many people around."
"I'm not eating alone." James said defiantly. "Hey, make it 3 specials please." He said that last bit while directing his face at the serving girl.
"O-okay, 3 specials coming right up!" She then turned and fled into the back room. A moment later she reappeared with 3 glasses of water on her tray and set them down.
"James, we are here to protect you from danger. It's highly unprofessional to eat while on the job." Emily said sourly.
James wasn't going to fight her and simply stated, "Your mine, I'm the master, so you'll eat. End of discussion."
"You're not my master.." He heard Veronica say bitterly under her breath.
James stared at her for awhile until she looked down and said, "Okay I'll eat the stupid food."
James smiled and he clapped his hands as he said, "Now that wasn't so hard, was it."
They sat in silence for awhile until James said, "Veronica, it'd be pretty hard to eat with your helmet on. Go ahead take it off."
'I've been thinking of a way to ask her all day, but this is the perfect opportunity to see the woman that's been carrying me around. I'm such a genius.'
Veronica sat fidgeting with her hands, unwilling to comply before she sighed and reached upwards. "If you want to break your promise about me being first on the quota, you can. I'll understand."
Taking off her helm revealed snow white hair braided into a neat bun. White eyebrows rode overtop of pure black eyes that had an endless depth. Luscious blood red lips heavily contrasted on her pale skin and a slim angular jaw tied her enchanting appearance together.
As if they were an afterthought, a couple of jagged silver scars decorated her ethereal like beauty. One reached from her left brow down past her eye, as the other on the right side of her cheek disappeared under her neck.
Snapping him out of his trance Veronica's husky voice trembled as she said, "I knew it, I should've kept my helm on."
James panicked as he realized he had been staring for a long time without saying anything, "No! Absolutely not! You must never put your helmet back on again, I won't allow it. It would be a sin to lock away such beauty behind that metal curtain!"
Eyes fluttering, blinking away the tears that were beginning to form Veronica smiled bashfully as she said, "You're not just saying that are you.. I know my scars and hair color are unsightly."
Seeing her smile James almost died from a sudden stopping of his heart. 'Oh my god, this beautiful woman was carrying me around like a baby all day, that's so embarrassing..'
"You should feel my heart racing right now if you wish to know the truth Veronica. I don't know if I could make it without seeing your face everyday for the rest of my life."
Veronica's head shot downward as her pale skin produced the most mesmerizing blush James had every witnessed.
Suddenly he felt a sharp pinch to his side and when he looked over, Emily was pretending to be fascinated by the cup of water in front her.
Feeling like he inadvertently dissed Emily by praising Veronica so heavily he said, "I also couldn't do without you, Emily. That's why I wanted to oathbind you as soon as I saw you. I may have lost my memories, but sitting here with the two most beautiful women in world is something I wouldn't trade for anything."
Both girls now had their heads down studying the table, too embarrassed to speak.
'This is it! I've found it! My respectable image as a man lies in path of teasing these two beauties. How does it feel to be on the receiving end hehehe…'
The serving girl returned and deposited their food onto the table saying, "3 dinner specials, on the house. Please enjoy!"
As she turned to leave James asked, "Why is it on the house?"
"Oh well.. uh.. Big Mama said since you drummed up so much business today, this was the least she could do." With that she turned and scampered away again.
"Business? I haven't done anything." James said thinking out loud.
Veronica looked at him and said, "Don't turn around but there is a line out the door, I assume word spread about a man in town and everybody wants to sneak a peak."
Now feeling all the eyes that were on him, James felt a little self conscious.
"You told me men live in the capital, but I didn't realize it was this rare for a man to be here."
"It's more than rare, it's unthinkable. The last time a male was in Creekrock was 20 years ago. People from the capital usually get impregnated and leave the busy city life to settle in places like this. Most woman in this town have never even seen a man before."
"Oh" was the only thing in response James could come up with.
The three soon finished their meals and left the tavern. James felt hungry eyes roaming his body during their departure.
"It's fairly late, Lady Justine is probably wondering where we're at right now." Veronica said patting the armor over her full belly.
"That's true, we might as well get a move on." James said when he noticed Veronica start to put her helmet back on. "Whoa, what're you doing! Helmet stays off, I wasn't joking earlier."
Veronica's hands fumbled as she paused her actions. "But I wouldn't be able to carry you-"
James felt a rush of wind as Emily picked him up, a triumphant expression plastered on her face. "You've been holding him all day, it's my turn so don't be greedy."
Veronica's face fell with defeat as she said, "Fine.."
While Veronica's princess carry had been a gentle hold that felt strong and reliable, Emily's was warm and tight. James was smooshed up against her stomach and when tried looking at Emily's face he realized her huge boobs made it quite difficult.
'I could get used to this.. who am I kidding, I'm already used to it.'
James was pretty tired from the days adventure and Emily's embrace was causing him to fall asleep. While he couldn't smell Veronica through her armor, but Emily had a sweet homely scent.
'She smells like homemade cookies fresh out the oven.. this is wonderful..' James thought as he slowly lost consciousness.
Emily had looked down to see James snuggling close and he was pressing his face into the underside of her bosom. He seemed to be smelling her all over. Her face flushed as her body got hot and if James hadn't been asleep he would've noticed a third support holding him up, right in the middle of his back.
The two walked towards the manor in silence. Veronica out of respect for James's sleep and Emily who was trying to regain her self control.
James roused from his sleep when felt his warm embrace had left him and deposited him in a bed. Blinking off sleep he saw two retreating figures about to exit the door.
James mind flashed, a roar of gunfire and bombs detonating as he lay bleeding out, his dead friends all around him.
"Nooo!" He cried, "You can't leave me too.."
Inconsolable he sobbed as the two figures were at his side in an instant. "Don't leave me all alone again.." James felt the warm embrace once again as he started drifting back into unconsciousness.
Emily sat with James as Veronica took off her armor. A silent understanding passed between the two. Laying on either side of James the two got into bed and soon everyone was asleep.
James nightmare had turned into pleasant dream where all his army friends were alive and horseplaying. In his dream James had found a particularly big stick and was playing with it, being immature and miming rude gestures with it as his squad laughed. The more he did it, the harder they laughed. Their echoing laughter was transforming into… ehh? Why were they moaning? James paused his movements getting a little weirded out, that's enough of that.
James walked away from his squadmates, taking his stick with him. Weirdly, it wasn't budging. He couldn't figure out why his trusty stick has betrayed him. Putting both hands on it he began to pull up and down.
It still wasn't moving! Putting his back into it James spit in his hands and rubbed them together. With a renewed effort he began pulling faster and faster. He couldn't seem to get a grip, the stick was getting increasingly slippery.
Faintly he heard, "James, no! I'm about to-" that set James back off as he angrily realized the stick told him no. 'You were supposed to be my most trusted friend, we went through a life and death battle together why won't you follow me'. James eagerly attacked the stick now pumping up and down, he knew he was close to victory because he felt it tremble. 'Just a little more and-' suddenly felt a burning hot liquid coat his hands.
Confused by the feeling James finally relented and let the stick have this small victory.
'We battled the evil slime together, how could you betray me like this? We were supposed to walk together through battles of life and death forever. Heh, goes to show how fickle friends really are…'