Message #644178

[BlueAnnihilator]

*After leaving Ackland Town, Blue's group travels eastward. It's not long until they come across the town of Kilburne, a community on the edge of the eastern Adlam Range*

~~Kilburne Town~~

Penny: Hey Blue...

Blue: Yeah, Penny? What's up?

Penny: Are you sure we're going the right way? I don't recognize this place at all.

Blue: Uhm...not really. No. *scratches head*

Penny: What!?

Blue: *sigh* Sorry, Penny. Without Lilia here to navigate for us, we kinda have no choice but to wing it...

Penny: Hmph! Just great! At this rate, we'll never catch up to them in time!

Jawo': Well we're definitely not going to catch up if we keep standing around yapping about it.

Blue: Jawo's right. Let's keep moving.

*The group continues through town. Meanwhile, at the same time, our old friend Rachel is busy sweeping the ground outside the local general store*

~~Kilburne Town, General Store~~

Rachel: *humming while sweeping* Hm hm hm hmhm hm hmmmm!

Manager: Hey, Rachel!

Rachel: Huh?

*Rachel's manager walks out of the store*

Manager: Guess what today is!

Rachel: Ah! Is it--!?

Manager: That's right! It's payday! Here are your earnings for the week.

*The manager hands Rachel a pouch full of gold coins*

Rachel: Ah! Oh wow! This is more than usual. Are you sure you didn't over pay me? I mean, not that I'm complaining or anything! Haha!

Manager: Ha ha, oh no. It's not an overpayment. I just thought that...since you do such good work around here, I should give you a nice little bonus. Just to show my appreciation.

Rachel: *gasp* Really!? A bonus!? Are you serious!?

Manager: I sure am! Keep up the good work, Rachel. You've earned every bit.

*The manager walks back into the store*

Rachel: Yay! A bonus! If I keep getting paid like this, I'll be able to go back home in no time! Heehee, Rachel ole gal, you're moving up in the world!

*Rachel goes back to sweeping when Blue and the others approach the store*

Rachel: *humming* Hm hmhmhm hm hm hmmm!

Jawo': Hey Blue, look.

Blue: Huh?

Jawo': It's a general store. Think we should stock up on more supplies before heading out?

Blue: Well gee, I'd love to, Jawo'. Expect for one thing...

Jawo': What's that?

Blue: Lilia was in charge of our funds, so she has all of our money too...

Jawo'/Blue: *sigh*

Rachel: Oh, hey! Customers!

*Rachel bows to greet them*

Rachel: Welcome to Grey's General Store. Where we have all of your general needs to make your life easier.

Penny: Sorry lady, but we're not customers.

Rachel: Oh?

Jawo': Yeah. We're flat broke...

*Rachel returns to a standing position*

Rachel: Well drat! *snaps fingers* It's my job to bring in paying customers. You can't pay if you don't have any money!

Blue: Huh? What the-- Wait a second... Rachel...is that you!?

Rachel: Hm? Blue? ...Ah! Blue, it IS you! Fancy meeting you here!

Jawo': Gah! R-R-Rachel!!!

*Jawo' flails about and retreats behind a fruit stand outside the store*

Rachel: Heehee, well if it isn't Jawo' too.

Blue: Rachel, what are you doing here?

Rachel: What do you mean?

Blue: I thought you were working as a waitress at the Everard City Cafe?

Penny: Hey, yeah! I remember that! Whatever happened to that job?

Rachel: Oh, I still work there.

Blue/Penny: Huh?

Rachel: Oh, right. I didn't tell you, didn't I? This is my second job. During the week, I'm working at the cafe. And on the weekends, I'm here at the general store.

Blue: Hmm, is that so?

Rachel: Yup! I realized that my wages from the cafe alone wasn't cutting it, so I got the job at the general store to make a little extra cash. And boy, did it pay off! Because now, I almost have enough money raised up!

Penny: You do? That's awesome!

Rachel: You're telling me, Penny! In just another week, I'll finally be able to quit and go back home!

Blue: Well I'm glad to hear it, Rachel.

Rachel: Yeah, I can't wait to get back. I really wonder how Mads is doing back at the Guild. I miss him...

Blue: I'm sure he's carrying on just fine. And things'll be even better once you return with the money.

Rachel: You're right, Blue! And until then, I'm gonna keep raking in that dough!

Blue: Keep it up, Rachel. You're doing a great job.

Rachel: Heehee! Will do!

*Rachel continues sweeping*

Blue: Well guys, I think we should let Rachel get back to work now. Let's go.

Penny: Right.

*Blue and Penny walk ahead, although Jawo' is still standing there, sweaty and trembling in place with his head down*

Jawo': Eeeugh...

Blue: Huh? Jawo'? What's the matter?

Penny: Hey, what's taking you, huh? Get your buns in gear!

Jawo': I...I-I-

Blue: Hm?

Jawo': I...

*Jawo quickly raises his head*

Jawo': I CAN'T LEAVE YET!!!

Blue: Hmph. *crosses arms* Well why not?

Jawo': Because, I...I...I s-still haven't...

Blue: ...Haven't what?

Penny: *smirks* Oh...I see...

Jawo': Huh?

Penny: Little Jawo' is still too chicken to talk to Rachel!

Jawo': *angers* What'd you say!?

Penny: Don't play dumb! It's just like what happened back at the cafe! Everytime Rachel is around, you always choke up like a big baby! You're so pathetic, I swear!

Jawo': Gragh, you take that back, you little brat!

Penny: Hah, too bad I can't take back the truth!

*Jawo' and Penny fiercely glare at one another in the face, with the "clash of electricity" surging from their eyes*

ZZZZZZT!!!

Jawo'/Penny: Grrrgggh...!

Blue: Hey, guys! Come on! Don't do this...

*Blue steps in and tries to break them apart*

Blue: Guys, now isn't the time for us to be fighting eachother. We need to be cooperating to--

Jawo'/Penny: *roars* STAY OUT OF IT!!!

Blue: Gah! *hangs head* Ooh...

Rachel: Blue, are those two at it again?

Blue: *sigh* Yeah...and I don't know how to stop them. If only Lilia was here. She usually prevents this from happening in the first place...

Rachel: Hmm...(I think I've got it) *smirks*

Blue: Rachel...?

Rachel: Gee, those two must be close, huh Blue?

Blue: Uhm, Rachel, what are you--?

Rachel: I saaaaid, those two must be really be close, right Blue? *wink*

Blue: Uh? *smiles* Ah, I get it now. Yeah, I really think so.

Jawo'/Penny: Grrgg-- Huh?

Blue: As a matter of fact, I read that the more two people argue, the closer they are.

Jawo'/Penny: *puzzled stare*

Rachel: Is that right? What was the name of the book, Blue?

Blue: Hmm, if I recall correctly, it was..."The Trials of Marriage"!

Jawo'/Penny: What!? The Trials of Marriage!?!?

*Jawo' and Penny look at eachother*

Jawo'/Penny: Me? Marry her/him!? No way!!

*The two turn away from eachother and cross their arms*

Jawo'/Penny: Hmph!

Rachel: Heehee! Mission Accomplished, Blue! You can thank me later!

Blue: Wow...that actually worked! Phew, you're a lifesaver, Rachel. I don't know what I would've done without you.

Rachel: Thank goodness you don't have to find out, huh? Ha ha! But on a related note, you mentioned earlier that Lilia wasn't here. Where is she, Blue?

Blue: Oh...right. She...she was kidnapped...

Rachel: Aah! Kidnapped!?

Blue: Yeah, she...and Reese, they were both taken. And now it's up to us to rescue them before it's too late.

Rachel: Ah! That's terrible, Blue! How could this happen!?

Blue: I'm sorry, Rachel, but we don't have time to explain the details.

Rachel: Huh?

Blue: The more time we waste standing around here, the closer Kovah and his group comes to getting their hands on the monolith. We have to get going immediately.

Rachel: *nods* Right, I understand. I won't keep you any longer.

Blue: Thanks, Rachel. Let's go, guys.

Jawo'/Penny: Yeah yeah...

*Jawo' and Penny walk ahead to catch up with Blue. But Rachel grabs Jawo' by the arm, stopping him*

Rachel: Jawo', wait a second!

Jawo': Huh?

*Suddenly, Rachel pulls Jawo' forward, giving him a long wet kiss right on the lips*

Blue/Penny: *blank stare*

Rachel: Mmmwhaw! Heehee! I just couldn't let you leave without giving you one of those!

Jawo': *swirly eyes* Uuuggh....

*Jawo' stumbles about in a daze until falling flat on the ground*

Rachel: *sigh* Oh Jawo'. You're so funny! <3

Penny: *facepalm* Ugh, nice going, Rachel. Now we're gonna have to carry him the whole way!

Rachel: Uh, gee. Sorry guys...*scratches head*

*After a second friendly encounter with the lovely Rachel, Blue and his friends pass through Kilburne Town and progress on their way through the Adlam Range. Continuing their pursuit of Kovah, and their kidnapped friends*