Healer Arc Part 2 Outline

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The Next Day

• GM awakens to a minor headache from lack of sleep. Snow gets him up, somehow unnaffected by her lack of rest. He asks why she isn't tired, finds out as a perfect maid she's trained herself to sleep at a moment's notice and she usually gets her eight hours on and off. GM isn't even shocked by this point.
• Asks for a report. It's 11:30, all four girls are doing arts training, Evisse is still in a great mood. Killing 60 pinemen seems to have done a wonder for her condition, and Snow even admits that she's a nice girl. The others are getting along with her, too. GM is happy, thinks he may have jumped the gun on writing her off as problematic. Opalina also stopped by but was informed of the situation. Zuzu made plans with her later tonight.
• Snow asks him to reward Cherry and Peri for having to work late last night, and he agrees. He asks if Snow wants a reward, too, but she smiles and says she doesn't need a reward for keeping this place on track. It's her job. GM pulls her in close, asking how he ever lived without her. Snow looks around at the shitty state of the room and is like 'Indeed'.
• She sends in the kitties, and he has a morning romp with them. They're both exhausted so he has fun teasing them and being a bit mean. Once the cum settles in, they both feel more energized.
• Peri asks if Taskmaster does anything for his employees or just his adventurers. GM doesn't know and comments how it would be nice if he could get a manual, only for Luxy to sarcastically send a sign. A beam of light enters the window and he voice trails off 'Figure it out...'. While she's listening, he asks how he's supposed to deal with Evisse. Luxy snaps that he needs to grow from the damn trials she gives him and stop asking for answers. He sighs.

Training Incident

• GM narrates past his breakfast and coffee, he writes to Abigail as he eats and tells her about his rough night. He checks in on the training yard before leaving with Nikita to see Gwin.
• Sam is learning a new weapon art, Hype Strike. Kind of like reflect but not really. Sam uses her sword to tank a physical only blow, and the sword stores the energy making her next strike stronger. Unlike reflect, it doesn't scale, and it doesn't come out as a massive burst of energy.
• Zuzu is shooting low level spells at Meri, who has a brand new shield form- Mirror. Meri explains she was already thinking of a way to reverse magic, so when she read it in the book, doing it was actually simple. At least the form was. She's still working on the actual Mirror-form reflect art.
• Zuzu has to do one squat and one toe touch between every spell. Her face is red and strained like she's about to pass out.
• Evisse has talent as a physical fighter, so she's being taught Steel Soul and a Scythe art, Rending Wave. Sends a crescent blast of energy out. Since her scythe's blade is arcane energy, there's no use in her learning Blunt Edge.
• GM is there when Evisse crashes. Everyone instantly notices, as the mood returns back to how bad it was before. She's sorry for ruining the mood, and Sam is sorry back for thinking she's creepy all these years.
• Meri, selfless as ever, puts away her fear and steps forward, volunteering to let Evisse hit her with her blunt scythe. GM doesn't feel good about that, but Meri insists. Meri readers herself to take a blow and lessen the pain, but Evisse hits Meri across the chest without remorse, and the arcane tech staff does its impact improvement thing which does way more damage than expected.
• GM rushes to Meri's side and Evisse is all smiling and happy, before she realizes Meri is in serious pain. GM is angry, saying Meri wasn't ready. Evisse apologizes and fully heals Meri, who gets really awkward and can't look back at Evisse. The spell wasn't half-assed, so GM knows she is actually sorry and wants to help.
• GM tells Meri that they'll have their date tonight, and he promises they'll have a lot of fun. He asks if she'll be alright, and
• GM pulls Evisse aside, warning her that she need to work on her impulse control. Evisse gets teary eyed, full of regret. She openly admits that when she doesn't have emotions she has poor judgment and does bad things, then starts blushing and covering her chest when she remembers she took her clothes off so casually in front of him. She asks him to step back a little bit, and he's blushing at this point too.
• Snow appears to alert him he needs to get going, and GM sighs.
• GM has Evisse promise to not sneak off and do any questing on her own, and Evisse warns him she might not be able to follow up on any promises she makes.
• She promises anyway, and GM has no choice but to accept it.
• He leaves, and Snow asks if she should rough Evisse up if she tries to sneak out again. Shows her claws.
• GM tells her no, as it's not like it's against the rules. GM calls Nikita, and she follows him out.

Meeting up with Gwin

• Nikita and GM chat on their way to Gwin's.
• GM thanks her for escorting him around so much lately, and Nikita brushes it off. She's used to escort missions, part of a merc's job.
• GM notices she's keeping a fair distance of about five feet from him, and as he stares he notices her blush. She tells him don't worry bout it.
• Their talk the other day is still fresh in her mind. She doesn't want to get closer to him, and is adamant about it.
• Not much GM can do, so he pushes it aside.
• Gwin is waiting for them outside. She and Nikita fistbump, and Nikita asks if she should head inside with them. Gwin says it wouldn't hurt to have some more muscle if things go bad.
• GM asks if she expects things to turn violent, and she doesn't know what the hell might happen. She wants to know if he has a plan to smooth things out with her family beyond the papers.
• He does, but he won't use it unless he has to as it's a rather generous offer. Nikita thinks she knows, and GM smiles but remains quiet.
• Gwin then blushes as she asks about his plan for the other thing. The whole hiring her and having her live at the Guild thing.
• Nikita smirks and teases GM, before giving him a warning that he'll need a lot of lube if he wants to hit some Dwarf pussy. Gwin becomes an angry blushing, cursing mess over the comment but cannot deny it.
• GM admits he doesn't know how he's going to convince them of that, but Gwin reminds him marriage is the fastest way to get their approval. Gwin doesn't expect him to just skip in line ahead of Sam and the rest, but says it could be an angle for him to work with.
• Ultimately, she says you're smart, use your words and all that.
• GM straightens his collar, slicks back his hair and takes a deep breath. He is ready to take Opalina's advice and be aggressive about what he wants. Renovations are good, but it's Gwin that's the real goal.

Clan Shatterbrew

• Gwin loudly calls for her dad, Thadmar. He's shocked to find GM coming back even after he refused him business. GM gets a lot of angry looks from the Dwarves on the showroom floor when Thadmar calls out to them, saying the asshole who lost them the brothel contracts is here.
• Gwin warns everyone to back the fuck off, saying he's here with her.
• Thadmar reminds her that she's not supposed to be associating with him, and Gwin makes her stand by asking 'where the hell do you think I go almost every day?'
• Thadmar eyes the two of them up and says he ain't going to approve of his daughter hanging around a no-good bastard like GM, and rouses up the boys.
• Bunch of Dwarves aggressively move in, and Nikita makes a show of strength that makes them back off.
• GM apologizes for taking down Pimpington, won't apologize about Gwin. Says he would like to negotiate with whoever's in charge.
• The Dwarves all laugh at him, calling him an idiot for thinking he'd ever get to meet with the Patriarch.
• GM pulls a villain move and threatens them, saying the Duke of Dewhurst is the least of their problems. If they refuse him, then the Duke of Arrark will be breathing down their necks.
• All the Dwarves laugh harder until he whips out the business papers and presents them to Thadmar.
• Thadmar is floored, and tells everyone to shut the fuck up, especially his wife, who then tells him to fuck off.
• Thadmar asks what's stopping him from ripping this paper up here and now. Nikita threatens him, asking what's stopping her from ripping HIM in half- besides the fact that he's already half a man.
• Tensions grow, GM calms them and says that the paper is symbolic. He has connections, and Duke Gloomcrest will know about what happened today.
• Thadmar accepts that he's going to have to be allowed in to see the Patriarch, earning a loud gasp from all the onlookers. He tries to separate Gwin from him by ordering her to her room, and she yells at him that she ain't a kid.
• GM explains that Gwin is a big part of the day's discussion and that they can't have it without her.
• Thadmar says this ain't about business, it's about his daughter. GM says that his daughter is going to be a part of GM's business whether Thadmar likes it or not, and if he's going to continue to stand in his way then he'll have to deal with his bodyguard.
• Nikita walks up, lets out her aura and cracks her knuckles. Thadmar finally relents out of fear, and says he'll take them to his grandfather.

Broudrumir Shatterbrew

(Nikita's role in this segment is downplayed, she's there and will comment on stuff but isn't really relevant so she doesn't come up in the outline. Just a heads up.)

• GM and co are led underground to see the patriarch. They pass several levels on their way.
• First, a workshop where a lot of Gwin's family is at work. GM learns that they sell a lot of furniture they make to merchants as well as take commission.
• Next three levels are the dorms, where lots of families all have their own sizable apartments.
• After that, they pass by the unmistakable smell of a brewery. GM learns that the brew in Shatterbrew wasn't just for show, and that keeping so many Dwarves drunk requires lots of alcohol. They brew it with mushrooms native to Hal Moldihr.
• Finally, on the lowest level is the self-styled King of the Hill Dwarves, Broudrumir Shatterbrew. He's an absolutely ancient looking Dwarf sitting on a massive, intricately carved wooden throne. His beard trails on forever, and his hall is filled with Dwarves eating, drinking, gambling and so on.
• Thadmar announces their presence and GM is very grateful he has Nikita by his side.
• Broudrumir, despite his threatening appearance, is a sweet old man overjoyed to see his great granddaughter, asking if she's finally come to accept carpentry as her calling in life
• Gwin is like hell no, but he invites her up for a kiss and opens his arms to her anyway.
• Gwin refuses, but GM can tell she loves the old man deeply and really wishes they weren't fighting.
• He's disappointed, but expected as much. He reminisces about how cute she used to be, and Gwin takes offense saying she's still cute. The dwarves around all laugh at her as if to imply otherwise, and she threatens to beat them up.
• Thadmar introduces the GM to the Patriarch, who isn't as mad as GM expected. He knew there was a risk in taking that contract to build those brothels, and while it's not 'water under the bridge' so to speak he's not resentful.

Doing Business

• GM explains he's here for two major reasons. Resuming business and Gwin. Broudrumir is interested now.
• GM gives Thadmar the note from the Duke and he runs it to his grandfather as GM explains he doesn't have much choice as far as resuming business goes.
• Patriarch reads it and is dismayed, recognizes the official seal. He sighs and says there's nothing stopping them from jacking up their prices for GM alone.
• GM brushes it aside. Says he wants to fully renovate his Guild's main building. Thadmar remembers how bad of a shape its in from when he installed the bed, warns him they're not going to do it till it's clean.
• GM knows, says it'll be ready by the end of the week.
• Patriarch casually demands 500,000G for the work. GM insists on 200,000, he goes down to 400,000G, then Gwin interrupts and asks him to stop being a tight ass.
• Broudrumir doesn't understand how this effects Gwin, and Gwin tries to say something but GM cuts her off.
• GM moves up to 220,000. This gets a laugh, asking if he has anything worth making the price that low he can offer, excuse or otherwise.
• GM says he does, and asks Thadmar to tell him about the Pineman wood. Broudrumir tells him no need, he's worked with it before and it's amazing quality. It's just a shame that it's so hard to collect.
• GM explains how he has nearly 100 corpses of Pinemen stored in his basement, and given how much there still are roving around in the wild, he can get more. He will not only supply the building materials needed to renovate the Guild, but will give them any amount they ask for on top of it.
• Broudrumir expects renovations to take that many Pinemen alone. He thinks on it. Demands 500 extra pinemen and 300,000G. GM agrees, but then he adds 'within five days' and that the Guild has to be spotless before they work on it. If he gets both done at the same time, things are a-go.
• GM is shocked. At first he thinks about using Snow to gather some, but she needs to be at home leading the cleaning effort. He also hints at a cryptic boss-monster level Pineman they could look for. Without any other option, he agrees but asks to shake on it with the Patriarch.
• He's amused that GM knows about the power of a Dwarven handshake and how it signifies an unbreakable promise, and agrees.
• GM ascends throne and shakes his hand, asking for sure that nothing will change their agreement now that it's been shook on. Is told yes.

Gwin

• GM is glad to hear that, because now he needs to talk about Gwin.
• GM explains how everyone knows Gwin doesn't have much interest in carpentry. Patriarch doesn't like where this is going.
• For a while now, Gwin has been helping out the Guild through building repairs. Not only that, but she's been helping with their armor and weapons, too.
• Some of the rowdier dwarves start calling Gwin a traitor, which she gets feisty about. She didn't ask to be born a Hill Dwarf. Patriarch quiets them but is mad.
• Broudrumir explains some of the lore to GM, explaining how his family was expelled from the first level of Hal Moldihr after brewing a bad batch of beer that wasn't their fault. It got a lot of Dwarves sick, which is saying something.
• On the surface, he discovered woodworking and fell in love with it. When a Karnallian ship came along looking for Dwarven immigrants, he brought himself and family to settle in Arrark, the most densely wooded province. They've been carpenters ever since.
• He says Gwin will see the error of her ways when she's older. GM doesn't agree and states that she holds incredible talent which should be nurtured. He rightly points out how skilled Gwin is at carpentry, which she gets mad at before he clarifies 'now imagine how skilled she'd be with something she actually cared about'.
• Broudrumir is silent, perhaps understanding this as a legitimate point. Asks if GM intends to give Gwin a place to hone her talents. He says yes.
• Thadmar chimes in, asking why the fuck they'd help him if he was going to help Gwin become a blacksmith, but Broudrumir reminds him they already shook on it and they can't not help him now. Points out GM is crafty for doing so.
• GM sees this chance as his best bet, announcing he isn't just giving her a place to be herself, but that they're dating with the intention of marriage. Gwin is shocked to hear this as well, but when skepticism falls on her she has to play along.
• Thadmar goes apeshit claiming he won't allow it, but everyone makes fun of him for his Elf fetish.
• Patriarch asks if he's asking for permission for Gwin's hand, and GM says not yet, but he wants her to stay with them and he will build her a forge and help her learn the trade anyway he can.
• Patriarch surprises everyone by saying Gwin can go, but before they celebrate, GM asks what the condition is this time.
• Gwin is free to go as long as she does a ceremony that disowns her from the clan, essentially. Gwin is heartbroken, as is Thadmar. GM can't let himself be the cause of her conflict, but Gwin summons the strength to tell him it's not about him, it's about her family refusing to allow what makes her happy. Says she would've done this eventually with or without him.
• Most of the dwarves watching this unfold seem like they fall in Gwin's camp, but none of them are man enough to speak against the patriarch.
• Broudrumir demands that she leave, mad/sad that this didn't scare her off from wanting to become a smith. He demands that she leave this house, and says they'll send someone to check on the wood after the five days are up. If by that time Gwin hasn't come to her senses, they'll carry out the ceremony before doing the renovations.
• He reminds Gwin that there is no greater shame for a dwarf than to be stripped of their clan, only for Gwin to remind him there's one greater shame. Being kicked out to the surface of Hal Moldirh.
• Gwin says to meet her outside the building, and GM and Nikita both leave.

After

• GM and Nikita are both just loitering around, trying to sort through how awkward that just was. Niki says he did the best he could, but Dwarves aren't the type to change their mind. GM still feels a bit responsible, but Nikita bops him on the chest and tells him not to be so thickheaded.
• She reminds him that he's the only person in the Realm who's giving her a shot to do what she loves. Screw Gwin's family, he's doing more for her than they ever did.
• GM wonders if that's true. Everyone seems to really like Gwin, and the Patriarch in particular seemed like he loved her deeply. Nikita reminds him if he really loved her he would support her choices. Then she's like, not that I'd know anything about family.
• GM asks, and for once, Nikita opens up a bit on her history. All children where she comes from (not sure if it will literally be called Sparta or just a reference to it) are separated from their parents, and then judged on their potential.
• Nikita is like 'funny story, I was judged to be too weak, so I was dropped from a cliff.' GM raises all sorts of problems with this, saying an infant couldn't survive that, but she specifies she was weak by her state's standards. At least, they thought she was. She climbed back up the cliff, still an infant, and allegedly latched on to the nearest breast she could find. Again, GM thinks this is crazy, but she only shrugs her shoulders.
• Gwin finally appears, hauling a huge ass bag of her stuff. Her eyes are red from crying but GM doesn't comment on it.
• She naturally assumes he's cool with her coming to stay with them, and he obviously is.

Back Home

• Gwin is given a room for now but is intent on making the jump to the big bedroom sometime soon, implications and all. She sets down her bag for Snow to unpack later. The head maid senses something wrong and goes straight for Gwin, trying to help.
• Snow is told the situation and commends GM for securing the deal at least if nothing else. Her eye twitches when she learns she has 5 days to get everything clean. GM asks if she needs a smoke break, but Snow focuses herself and denies it despite looking twitchy.
• Sam, Zuzu, Meri and Evisse are out killing Pinemen because Evisse tried sneaking out. GM is stressed.
• Peri and Cherry have to haul the wood themselves, distracting them from cleaning. Nikita takes over for them, saying GM can make her a cocktail later to make up for it.
• GM remembers seeing a speed up spell on Evisse's spell list, and he opens up Taskmaster to Sam. He asks how much they've killed so far, and Sam says thirty? GM tells her that they're going to need a lot more.
• Sam is conflicted, eager to train but feels bad for Gwin. Zuzu is tired just imagining it. Evisse is super happy at the thought of killing thousands of Pinemen, but GM corrects her to just 500.
• Snow asks where they're even going to store so many, GM says they'll have to start using the basement.
• GM asks and Evisse does have a speed up spell. GM asks if she'll come home for a moment to try it out on the kitties. Evisse is happy to, as she's grateful for him lining up so many kills for her.

Speed Cats

• Since Zuzu has plans with Opal, all three come back. This way Sam and Evisse can leave together to go kill more after having a stamina potion. They don't have the option of calling it an early day since they need more Pinemen.
• GM worries if he'll have to cancel his date with Meri to focus on leading the girls, but Sam sticks up for herself. We did just fine on our own right now, right?
• GM reluctantly accepts and allows Sam and Evisse to go out questing alone, but Meri makes sure it's ok if they still have their date today. So much has happened and she'd understand if GM needs to focus on business stuff.
• GM feels she has a point but Snow gives him a glare. He accepts he needs to have some time away from work, considering how much quest papers he's going to have to fill soon. He is determined to have his date with Meri.
• Since Nikita is needed as their escort, Gwin volunteers to stack the trees.
• Zuzu gives him a kiss and leaves to see Opal. GM warns her that if this is about her condition, Opalina didn't have much good to say. Zutiria is determined to talk to her herself, mage to mage.
• Peri and Cherry are called, and each give Myaster a greeting. They just about have a heart attack when they hear they only have five days to clean guild instead of a week. GM calms them, saying Evisse will help.
• She uses her speed buff spell, and the results are not quite what was expected. They both get faster, but it speeds up their brain, too, making Cherry really twitchy and hyper aware, whereas Peri can barely handle it. She stands there drooling and vibrates in place. GM is worried but when he gives Peri a command, she follows it without question.
• Snow gets the spell too, but humorously, it has no effect. She's already operating at max speed as a hyper efficient maid.
• GM asks the kitties if they'll be ok like this, but Cherry says not to underestimate them. Peri nods her head, spilling drool everywhere. Evisse warns that they'll crash later, and Peri just says then we'll keep getting the spell cast. They zip off away to the east wing, Peri accidentally tripping and hurting her head on the door as she goes.
• GM doesn't feel great about putting the kitties through this but trusts Snow will oversee them.
• Sam and Evisse leave to go kill more pinemen, while Meri and Nikita get ready for the date.

Opalina and Zuzu (Zuzu POV)

• Flash over to Zutiria staring at herself in the mirror, wearing a gothic lolita dress. Opalina got it for her while shopping in Dawnstead, saying she knew it'd look cute on her.
• Zuzu is pleased, but embarrassed.
• Opal goes to brew tea, glad to have some time alone with just the two mages.
• Zuzu thinks to herself as she waits, hoping she can get Opalina to help her with her condition somehow.
• Opal returns with the tea, and guesses what Zuzu is here to talk about correctly. Opal reiterates, saying Zuzu knows that the only treatments are extremely risky.
• Zuzu wants to try anyway, maybe doing it incrementally would lessen the risks. Opal counts saying it'd barely be an improvement.
• Zuzu lays out her theory that Opal is more than she lets on, which leads in her guessing that she's Daphne Nightshade. Opal is frustrated, knowing she couldn't hide it from a mage like Zuzu.
• Zuzu promises not to tell anyone and isn't interested in her past. Whatever bad things Opal did, Zuzu thinks she did worse. The thought troubles Opal.
• Opal offers to try fixing Zutiria's vocal cords so that her spellcasting is stronger, but Zuzu panics at the idea. It hurts to talk, but even if it were fixed she wouldn't be able to talk much. Opal says that at least they wouldn't hurt anymore, but Zuzu prefers it if they hurt.
• Opal asks why she's suddenly so insistent on fixing herself even if it's dangerous, correctly guesses Pimpington. Zuzu feels like a liability and like she's less useful to him.
• Opal reminds her she doesn't need to value her self worth solely on how useful she is to GM, which Zuzu has a hard time with accepting.
• Zuzu is embarrassed how he suggested she try on taking Alchemist as a subclass, but Opal isn't sure why that's a problem. She's seen what Zuzu can do with such a small budget, and now that she'll have a lab soon Opal is certain she can make amazing things.
• Zuzu says it makes her upset that she can't support him using her magic. She's supposed to be a super strong mage yet she barely has access to 10% of her mana, spells take a toll on her body that other Mages don't suffer from, and it hurts her.
• Opal is very conflicted over Zuzu's turmoil. She promises to help her however she can, and will start looking into treatment options. She laughs about how the old her would have done gods know how many tests and shady business to cure it.
• Zuzu half jokingly asks if that's still an option. Opal asks if she could live with herself knowing others suffered to cure her condition, and Zuzu is comically like don't ask me that.
• Opalina sets down her tea and pulls Zuzu onto her lap, and begins to spoil her. Zuzu is embarrassed but allows it to happen, eventually leaning into Opal. She asks if its weird that this makes her happy, and Opal tells her no its fine.
• As she's being comforted, Zuzu remembers her mom and her older sister. She doesn't like thinking back to when 'it' happened, but she misses her family.
• Opal comforts her, knowing they can't be brought back but reminding Zuzu she has a new family now.

Sam and Evisse (Sam POV)

• Sam and Evisse are fighting Pinemen hard, both of them working on their new arts. Evisse can't send out very strong Rending Waves, and Sam's Hype Strike also isn't coming out that well.
• The two are tired, having sent back about fifty more since they went back. They take a short break.
• Sam wonders how many of these monsters there even are, but Evisse says monsters spawn really fast thanks to Tenebris Primis which is why adventurers are such an important thing.
• Sam gets personal and asks about Evisse's issues. Evisse feels good right now, but in a few hours she'll probably crash. Sam asks if she really can't feel anything when she's like that. Evisse says she can feel that she wants to feel things.
• Sam asks how the hell she lived like that. Evisse says she hid it. Admits that she's hurt people in minor ways like pretending to 'accidentally' trip them, and then apologizing and healing them. Back home she had a reputation as a clutz, to the point where new maid or servants in their house were warned. Anyone who she accidentally hurt got a small bonus in pay each time, so it kinda worked out? Even if it stressed her father out.
• Sam is just like uh yeah bitch you shouldn't do crap like that.
• Evisse says its all ok now, since killing monsters gives her an actual outlet. Sam kinda agrees, remembering how stressful it was killing all those ugly goblin things.
• Evisse shows a scary eagerness to go and kill more and more things, and even though she's cheerier, she still is giving Sam creeps.
• Sam nonetheless opens up a bit about her own problems, saying she can't really judge. Sometimes she gets really angry and wants to violently hurt, torture and anyone who messes with the people she cares about and there's hardly anything she can do about it. Evisse, being a well read rich girl, knows about the Royal Blood.
• Evisse is creepily interested in how it feels.
• Sam sees that relating to Evisse is harder than she thought, and sighs. Seeing she won't make any progress here, she says they should get back to work. Evisse happily agrees.

Meri's date (Meri POV)

• Meri is super happy about being out with GM, and she's wearing a cute dress for the occasion. Since Nikita is watching over them, she was convinced to go without her armor and shield just this once.
• Meri only wanted to go to the bookstore, but GM said she's being too humble. He forces her to let him take her to bakery/cafe so they can eat something and she relents.
• Meri sees all sorts of sweets and is tempted. GM spoils her and says she can get anything she wants. Ends up with a large tray of sweets.
• Meri notices how he's barely eating his food and is mostly just staring at her, but he can't help it.
• GM loves seeing how cute she looks when enjoying sweets, and Meri shyly asks if this some kind of chubby fetish thing and GM is like no it's not hot cause she's eating, she's just adorable because she's her.
• Meri can't say anything back, instead choosing to shove some pie down her mouth to make up for the embarrassment. GM says with all the high stress, it's nice that they've made time for the dates. Meri agrees.
• She thinks he's taking on too much pressure lately, but he's resolute that it's always like this. Even if it's true, it makes Meri sad.
• The two leave the bakery, only for them to come across a street stall selling yet more sweets. Meri obviously wants one and is shy when GM gets her one anyway despite how it's bad for her.
• As they walk, Meri tells him about some of the stuff she's been reading in the Shield Maiden book. She didn't know Shield Maidens actually originated from Echora, and that their source came from the original SM, Clementine Appledale, as in Duke Appledale.
• GM teases her, asking if she's the long lost descendant of House Appledale. Meri blushes, denies it but he's only teasing.
• GM asked why she never knew all this basic stuff, and she reveals that her mom never wanted her to be a SM. If she were around, she might even be mad. Says her Mom always called her a sweet, cute girl who would make a better wife than she would an adventurer.
• GM comforts her, saying she was right that Meri would make a good wife at least.
• They go through a bookstore, with Meri picking up ten new erotic novels. Three of them are Dungeon Sluts. Meri asks how come there's always new DS books, and GM explains how the author, cryptically named CC12, is probably a conglomerate of twelve authors. Meri doesn't think so, since they all have the same tone. GM admits its strange, but doesn't think much of it.
• Meri and GM have themselves a cute moment talking about books, and all in all Meri is just really happy.
• Bond level three.

Nighttime

• GM returns happy from his date with Meri. They're just in time for dinner, and Opal is over helping. Peri and Cherry are sitting in a corner, exhausted.GM carries them to their seats, and they thank him. Snow says east wing will be done by tomorrow, then they'll do the west wing.
• Zuzu is still wearing her dress, and GM thinks she looks adorable. Opal has Zuzu give him their new invention, a gel capsule full of his semen in case of emergency. They're easy to make as long as Zuzu keeps some of his semen stored.
• Zuzu tells GM she'll look into creating more alchemical tools for her to use in battle, and is sorry for being stubborn. Nikita jokes about how now all she needs to do is train her body more. Zuzu shivers.
• Gwin is nursing a beer with Nikita and he sits down next to her, asks how she's doing. She's not doing great, but it could be worse. GM doesn't try and comfort her, lets her sort out her stuff alone which she appreciates. Nikita tries to cheer her up but fails.
• Sam is tired from the days work, but Evisse is still hyperactive. Neither is close to finishing their new Arts, but Evisse is happy to continue training.
• Everyone has dinner and with Gwin, Niki and Opal all in attendance, GM has a moment where he feels a little overwhelmed. Sam comments on it, and he admits that he just never felt a packed Guild like this would ever happen again. He's reminded there are still 7 other tables in the entrance hall, and gets teased on if he can handle that many girls.
• I'm sure they won't all be girls, he says. Famous last words, says Zuzu.
• Happy dinner. Afterwards, Opal talks to GM about the new girl.
• Opal thinks that sounds really complex, and like everyone else advises him caution. Teasingly reminds him not to forget Abigail.
• GM pulls Evisse to his office for a quick talk.

Evisse talk

• GM offers her a seat and ask how she's doing. She's amazing. Never felt more alive. GM asks if she's going to crash in the middle of the night, and Evisse isn't sure. Generally speaking, the more she kills the longer her emotions stay, and she killed a lot today.
• GM asks if she's always been like this, and she repeats the info she told Sam. GM sighs, saying at least she doesn't have to do that anymore.
• Evisse agrees, and she goes on to thank GM. He doesn't get why, but she says its because his whole job is basically to ensure she can kill as many things as possible and to come home safely.
• GM reminds her that as a healer, it's HER job to make sure the group comes home safely. She's silent. GM appreciates how she's both a fighter and a healer, but he stresses to her that she can't overlook her actual job.
• Evisse blushes, saying she wouldn't if he could remind her with Taskmaster.
• GM sighs, saying this is awkward because they're 'supposed' to develop a relationship, but it shouldn't be one of convenience.
• Evisse explains she not entirely uninterested in him, finds him cute, and she knows he feels the same way.
• Doesn't matter to him, but she leans in and shows off cleavage, tempting him to increase their bond level.
• and lectures her how he's sensing a recurring problem with Evisse. Whether it's with emotions or not, she struggles with waiting to get what she wants.
• Evisse listens in carefully, confused. GM tells her that if she hangs around, does her best, and just gets to know him and everyone else then it's only a matter of time before something sparks.
• Evisse confronts that truth head on, and admits he's right. She asks what should she do when she wants something and she can't have it. GM doesn't hear her say this as a spoiled brat, but as someone who is legitimately stunted in her emotions trying to find actual advice on coping.
• GM stresses that the biggest thing she needs to do is tell someone. Don't randomly go off and do stuff. Evisse is confused, saying that won't help her get what she wants. GM says yes, it won't, but it will alert someone else to how she feels and then he can talk her through her next actions.
• She asks what if everyone else is sleeping, and GM says to either wake up him or Snow and that they'll help her with her impulses somehow.
• Evisse struggles like she doesn't know if that would actually help or not, but she promises to try.
• Evisse is a little overwhelmed when she thinks about it, says since she's spent her whole life trying to hide her condition that actually talking to someone about her problems is a new experience, and it's making her feel new things she didn't feel were possible.
• GM is happy to help. He asks her not to sneak out tonight and promises if she does, he'll let her fight something really amazing tomorrow. Evisse leaves with a lingering smile. GM is optimistic about.

Abigail

Mini chapter idea where a back and forth would be shown between whoever Abigail talks to that night. Only dialogue, no description. In this excerpt, Abigail comforts GM with how much stuff is going on and ends up telling him she'll try to talk to one of the girls whenever he's ready.

Nightly Sex Scene

• He's exhausted from all the paperwork heads up to bed to find the girls waiting for him. Zuzu explains that they've come to a decision. It's not fair if they're the only ones who do all the training around here, and if GM is going to keep getting more playmates then there's a certain something he has to get better at.
• Snow strips him efficiently and Zutiria applies the Duplidick spell. GM is excited yet nervous.
• Double blowjob from Sam and Meri while fingering the kitties, Snow behind him encouraging him.
• Since it's not as intense as two pussies, Snow suggests her have sex with one cock while getting even more blowjobs. GM has no complaints.
• He starts with Meri on the bottom and Zuzu sucking, and he spends the rest of the night training.