470 Harvest Fair part four (1/2)

Nix smiled at his Sword Master and shrugged. ”Fine, I was only asking. I'll get one of the Trams to do it. Not everyone wants to be greased up and run around in the mud while a bunch of shirtless men try and capture you.”

Chiba's pale face blushed slightly as her creepy smile widened considerably. ”I'm sorry... What was that last part?”

Nix held up a hand. ”No worries. I just thought it would be more entertaining if we didn't use a real pig.”

Chiba cleared her throat. ”I was being too selfish. Of course, if my lovely Apprentice asks me, then I will definitely do it.”

Nix nodded to himself while keeping a straight face, she was way too easy. ”I'll grease you up myself.”

Chiba stepped closer and lowered her voice slightly. ”Who's my date for the Harvest dance?”

”Elan Mtui... Is that acceptable?”

Unexpected the beautiful swordmaster blushed, ”B-Breach Commander Mtui?”

Nix nodded. ”He owes me a favor, but to be honest it didn't take any convincing.”

Chiba stared at him for a moment and then nodded slightly. ”Of course not, I'm a beautiful woman after all.”

”Hmm... If you say so.” Nix stood up and spotted Shae standing next to the livestock tent. ”Gonna walk around for a bit, we'll meet up later.”

Chiba watched him walk away, her creepy smile not fading at all. ”Make sure you don't grease the pig before I'm in it,” she called after him.

”Did my dad make those?” Nix decided that the Salamander would look good in just about anything, and as one of the few people who've seen her naked, he could attest to her looking just as impressive wearing nothing.

Shae nodded and pushed back the straw hat that was shading her face. She wore blue overalls, comfortable shoes, and a white shirt. Her twin red braids dangling from the hat completed the 'farmer girl' picture. ”I forgot what he called them, but Semmi and Junie both loved them, you'll be getting their requests soon enough.”

”Overalls... No one really wears them anymore, but they were big when I was a kid. The straw hat is the topping. I like it!”

Shae stood up on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his lips. ”As agreed, you are all mine today.”

Nix grabbed her hand, his yellow eyes taking in the crowd that was pouring in. At the last minute, Inferno opened the Fair up to all of the 12 pillars. Deidra herself personally spoke to everyone before they stepped into Haven. ”Let's walk around to the far side, and save the livestock for last.”

Shae clapped happily. ”We'll see my peppers!”

”You entered your Ghost Peppers?”

The redhead nodded and favored him with a sweet smile. ”Of course! I've worked hard on them.”

Shae leaned against them while the couple walked along the outside of the tents. ”You're probably wondering where everyone is. Hyai is in the baking tent, Fajii is with the judges and Raine is in the Great Desert.”

Nix paused in mid-step. ”Great Desert? Why would she be there?”

Shae squeezed his hand slightly. ”Are you worried? Mina has been staying there for the last few days, she says the dry air helps with her pregnancy.”

”How would a desert help and Aquarion?” Nix knew a fib when he heard one. ”Does Raine even know Min?”

”Don't ask so many questions. She's your date for the dance, but you've other obligations.” Shae pointed at the mud-pit that had been roped off. ”Are you taking part?”

Nix knew she deliberately changed the subject. ”Could we meet again? At the place where I went to check on my three friends?”

Shae's brown eyes widened slightly, a moment later she covered his mouth with both hands. As an NPC, her every move was carefully monitored. ”In a few days, I'll be doing a quest for the Fire Temple. Perhaps when I get back.”

Nix nodded, as they discussed in Virtuna; a quest for the Fire Temple meant that she was going to log out for a short while. ”I'll wait until you get back then, it's no big deal, I thought we'd make you a garden here on the ranch.”

The first tent had three long aisles running the length of it, on either side of those were tables that displayed the entrants. A large sign that read 'From the Gardens of Haven,” hung across the middle.