Chapter 162: Technically a first date?

With their initial pleasantries out of the way, Zhen Liu and Bellona proceeded to go about on their matchmaking date, rather, try to figure out what to do for said date.

"So where did my cousins take you? I might as well try to be unique and not retread old ground as it were." {Never sleep with another man’s ex and never use another man’s bed for sex.}

<Unless they wronged you, at which point, do both, record it and send it to them.>

"Pfft!"

Bellona suddenly stopped as she used a hand to cover her mouth as if to prevent herself from throwing up or laughing. Judging by the way her shoulders were shaking, she was probably stifling a laugh.

"Uhhh...you okay?"

"I’m fine, I’m fine," Bellona said as she waved off Zhen Liu’s concern with an easy smile. "Just remembered a funny play I watched with father."

Once she had a laughter back under control, Bellona took a breath in order to address Zhen Liu’s earlier question.

"Well, your first cousin attempted to bring me to one of your local arenas until we had an... unfortunate encounter. While your second attempted to bring me through one of your city’s marketplaces. It was rather dull."

"So the arena and the marketplace, huh? Hmmm."

Zhen Liu began to scratch his chin in deep thought as he tried to figure out a date plan as it were.

’Well, it’s too early for food so let’s ignore that for now. She did mention plays so maybe the theater? Then again, I could also take her to that underground park...why am I having such difficulty with this? I’m technically dating someone now...wait, does this count as cheating?’ {Just do a threesome, they solve everything.}

[Seeing how she gave her consent for this, I don’t think so,] Hurricroak answered.

[Milord, I just realized something,] Nepherage interjected while Zhen Liu was thinking on his next course of action,[couldn’t you just take to the places you Jim Fang occasionally go-to during your outings with her?]

’I could, but that feels wrong.’ {But oh so right.}

[To...Jin...Fang?,] Frosttusk asked.

’Nah, well yes, but also to Bellona. A date should be something you can remember fondly...or something like that. It feels wrong to tread familiar ground with someone unfamiliar and saying it’s new.’ [Not that there is anything wrong with sloppy seconds.]

<In that case, can’t you just ask her what she wants to do.>

’Well...yes and no. I need to be tactful about it at least. Take initiative or show I can read someone without reading their minds or something like that...think there’s a technique I can learn to do that?’

<No comment.>

"Pfft!"

Once again, Bellona unexpected stifled a laugh in front of Zhen Liu.

"Miss Ecaredies, you gotta tell me the name of this play that got you acting up so much like this, at some point at least," Zhen Liu sincerely asked.

"Oh no," Bellona replied while waving it off, "It wasn’t so much the play, just the accidents that occured. I don’t think you’ll get the same amount of enjoyment as I did at the time."

"Ah. Shame."

________________________________________________

’This is the most fun I’ve had with mind reading in a while, but I should probably throw the man a bone here,’ Bellona thought to herself.

________________________________________________

"You know, Zhen Liu, I heard tell that this city had an unusual park of sorts. Something that can help us get out of this blasted heat?," Bellona asked in a sincerely sweet sounding voice.

’Oh thank God, a lead.’ {So she’s a voyeur? Naughty.}

Zhen Liu smiled as he finally had a lead of sorts on what to do.

"Well then, I have just the place. You ever been to an underground park before?"

"Can’t say that I have."

"Then you’re in for a wonderfully strange sight."

Zhen Liu was about to lead the way, but stopped when Bellona released not so subtle cough and presented a hand towards him.

’Ah. Duh."

Taking the hint, Zhen Liu took his arm and hooked it with hers.

"Now then, shall we?"

"Let’s."

Now looking like a proper young couple on a date, the two proceeded to make their way to, what Zhen Liu remembered being called, the "Natural Treasures Under Park."

’Wait...I hope she’s not allergic to fungus...’

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On the busy streets of Stone Claw, a beraggled man wearing a bandana with a horse skull embroidered on it was picking through the fruit stalls, trying to find some decent specimens to bring to his friends. Granted, he couldn’t help but mentally scoff at the prices.

’Three silver for a bag of oranges?! That’s highway robbery, and I should know that since that’s my job!,’ the man mentally grumbled. Of course he still paid for it since he didn’t really have a choice in the matter.

This fellow was named Arthur and he was a member of the Death Strider Bandits, a medium sized group that had fallen on some hard times due to an unforeseen incident involving a young woman kicking the asses of most of their members in a most brutal manner both physically and emotionally.

"If I ever find that bitch I’m gonna-waitaminute."

Just as Arthur was about to head back to the hideout and deliver the fruit to his boss and beaten allies, he noticed a familiar young lady in a poofy dress, being escorted by a unknown young man in a three piece suit. From what he could see, the two of them were on a date or something of the sort.

"Huh...that’s the direction to that underground fungus park. If they’re heading there then...I gotta go tell the boss, now."

Tightening the bag of oranges under his arm, Arthur ran through the market place as fast he could.

’Just you wait you wooly whore. The Striders will get their payback and then some!’

At the same time as Arthur was heading back to his boss, another pair of eyes were watching the exact same couple from the shadows, with intentions a tad more... elaborate.

’Hmmmm. It seems the young lady has the same gift as her brother. I’m sure the Ecaredies House won’t mind if I take this spare...’