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Once a year, Turitopulis would host a night market in its bustling town square for a week. Merchants, both local and from lands far away, would flock to the market to sell their wares. The inn would always be overflowing, and the receptionist would often end up offering discounted prices if its guests could share a room with one or two other patrons.
Griefer led you through the streets as you took in the sights and smells of it all. Unlike him, you were rather new to the place, having stayed there for only a week to retrieve the Venomshank before departing for the Ghostwalker.
But since Shedletsky hadn't tasked you to find any other swords as of late, you had some free time and returned to Turitopulis to check up on Griefer. When you found out that he still hadn't reverted from his plant form, you made up your mind to travel into the forest to find the cookbook containing the cure.
Luckily for you, you had the senses of a fox. After all, you were part-fox.
You were able to evade the mosquitoes that constantly plagued you or that annoying gorilla that somehow managed to ambush you at every turn. Eventually, you got to a bridge and, with your Bottled Ship, set sail across the lake.
Once everything was all said and done, you watched as Mayor Thaniyel hugged his son close to him, relieved that he was alive and well. Sure, he had some plant-like growth around him and leaves here and there, but he was alright. And that was what mattered.
You wanted to stay at Turitopulis to check up on Griefer, though. Mayor Thaniyel agreed, and even insisted you stay for a bit more just to catch the annual night market.
You agreed- you wouldn't admit it, but you just wanted to see Griefer.
All that brought you to this moment.
The moon was full, and the stars shone bright in the night sky. Lanterns illuminated the cracked concrete pavement. The air was filled with the chatter of excited customers and the clinking of coins as all sorts of wares were sold to happy customers by gleeful merchants, satisfied with yet another sale.
The sound of clinking bells could be heard in the crowd, too- owners of food stalls and carts were selling food to passersby.
"Ice cream, a cone for a dollar! You won't find better deals anywhere or anytime else- especially not in the Turitopulis heat!"
"Hotdogs! One for two dollars, two for three! Come get it while it's hot!"
Under regular conditions, you would have requested that Griefer take you back to his father's house- or you would have gone back by yourself to begin with. However, Griefer was able to make a pair of custom makeshift earmuffs for you. He had hung out with you for long enough to know just how sensitive your hearing was.
"Griefer, this isn't necessary, you know…I can just stay here during the night market-"
"N0. 1'M N0T L3TT1NG Y0U M155 TH15. 1T 0NLY T4K35 PL4C3 0NC3 4 Y34R, 4ND B3S1D35…"
Griefer never looked up from his desk, but judging by the long pause that followed, you could tell that he was nervous.
"…1'V3 B33N L00K1NG F0RW4RD T0 G01NG W1TH Y0U."
He immediately cleared his throat and turned to you with a sheepish smile.
"…1- 1 M34N- TH3 S1GHTS TH3R3 4R3 B34UT1FUL…JU5T L1K3 Y0U- W41T, N0, TH4T'5 N0T WH4T 1 M34NT-"
As you watched Griefer slowly become a flustered, stammering mess, you quietly looked at the numerous prototypes on the table.
They looked…comfortable. Surprisingly so. You didn't expect Griefer to have much experience designing accessories, considering that he often stayed in his room and played video games all day.
A small smile graced your features.
Maybe, just maybe…he really cared for you.
As the two of you walked through the market, you looked around in awe. Griefer was long since accustomed to the night market tradition, but even he was taken away by the beauty of it all. As he went to a nearby stall selling plant care products, something caught your eye.
Something shiny.
Your head snapped to the source of the glimmer. Not too far away, a merchant sat by his booth, advertising his trinkets to a small crowd of interested buyers. He was clearly a wealthy man- he was dressed in the finest of silk, and precious gemstones adorned the cuffs of his robe. Atop his head was a rich violet turban with a brilliant sapphire in the centre.
And there, you saw it. A butterfly brooch, glimmering in the moonlight. The vibrant blue drew you closer to it, and you wandered away from Griefer, wanting to get your hands on the brooch. Surely you had enough Tix, you were able to beat up quite a few NPCs on your way here-
A bag was pulled over your head. Before you knew it, you were dragged off to who knows where.
When the bag was finally pulled off your head, your eyes narrowed at the sight of four people in front of you. Tattoos snaked up their arms, and scars were littered all over their skin.
"Well, isn't it our lucky day…we've gotten our hands on a hybrid. They sell for a pretty penny, am I right, boys?" The one standing directly in front of you, presumably the leader, sneered. Behind him, his cronies snickered, cracking their knuckles as they stared you down.
You reached into your pocket, ready to pull out a card. Instead, your hand met the fabric of your pants.
Your blood froze as you realised you had left all your cards back in Mayor Thaniyel's home.
With an agitated snarl, you stooped low, your tail swishing behind you while you took a fighting stance. Your claws extended, pointed towards your aggressors. If you were going to get kidnapped, you wanted to make sure that it would be absolute hell to take you down.
Just as you were about to scratch the daylights out of the quartet, a faint whoosh caught your attention. The other four never heard it, but you did, and you glanced up as a lime green blur darted past.
One of the gang members drew back his arm, ready to charge and throw a punch- but he never followed through. A sharp whack sounded through the air, and the male slumped forward, unconscious.
Griefer stood behind him, crowbar in hand.
"4LR1GHT, WHICH 0N3 0F Y0U 1D10T5 H4D TH3 BR1LL14NT 1D34 T0 H4RM MY GU35T?"
The blood drained from their faces as they saw Griefer. His piercing red eyes almost seemed to illuminate the darkness as he stared down at them.
"It's the Mayor's son!"
"Run for it!"
The remaining three made a run for it. Two of them managed to get away, but you pounced on the third and started repeatedly scratching at his face before Griefer pulled you off him by the collar.
"CUT 1T 0UT, H3'5 L34RNT H15 L3550N. PR0B4BLY."
You walked out of the alleyway, your claws slowly retracting as the familiar presence of Griefer calmed your nerves.
He was a familiar face. A person you knew was safe.
You lightly gripped onto his jacket as you spotted the brooch at the merchant's stall, still sitting in its ornate box.
Griefer followed your gaze and glanced back at your wistful expression. Without a word, he gripped your hand and led you to the stall, the vines along his arms curling around your fingertips.
"H3Y. H0W MUCH F0R TH3 BR00CH OV3R TH3R3?"
The night was a long one. As the crowd slowly dissipated and merchants packed up their wares, the first rays of sunlight were just about to peek over the horizon. You sat next to Griefer on a bench atop a hill, waiting to see the rising sun.
"B3 M0R3 C4R3FUL N3XT T1M3…1 D0N'T KN0W WH4T MY D4D W0ULD D0 1F 1 L05T Y0U L1K3 TH4T."
Griefer stared into your eyes, then pulled you into a tight hug.
"…1 W0ULDN'T KN0W WH4T 1'D D0."
As the two of you pulled away, Griefer reached up and, with a bit of fiddling, pinned the butterfly clip onto the headband of your earmuffs.
"1'LL M155 Y0U WH3N 5H3DL3T5KY 3V3NTU4LLY 53ND5 Y0U 0N 4N0TH3R QU35T."
As the sun slowly rose into the sky, you glanced back at him.
"But you know that just like the daylight, I'll eventually return, right?"
"Y3P. 4ND 1'LL B3 W41T1NG."