Rucca Milone

“I’m here to see Legendary(Legendary of Kimaguré) Amarat Veneer the second..”   “I am he.”   “I am Rucca Milone.”   “Pleased to meet you. I’m afraid you have the advantage of me.”   “Oh, I’m third circle fetish. You know Hamburg ‘Point-blank’ Schweinfurt?”   “Yeah, I know Hamburg, you’re one of his circle mates? What’s this about?”   “He asked me to talk to you about Toemuss’s sister.”   “About Lahrana?”   “Yeah, that harpy.”   “Oh, you don’t get along with her either?”   “We’ve had… our moments. But lately she’s just mean.”   “You’ve come a long way, and I doubt I can help from here.”   “Oh, you sure can.” She reaches for his bicep.   “No, that’s gone.” He grabs her wrist. “Your circle mate Nami got it out of me already.”   “Oh.”   “But it wasn’t Lahrana that put it there. It was Ancalagon the Black”   “No, it wasn’t him either.”   “How can you be so sure?”   “The scar, it’s a letter in the alien’s alphabet. I found the same mark in Lahrana’s belongings.”   “You? You’re an unlikely investigator, aren’t you?”   “No one would suspect I can defend myself, you mean? Not unlike Kimi and Ami, your circle mates, I am more than I seem at first.”   “No, I got past that, but Kimi and Ami, and you too apparently, are easily distracted.”   “By?”   “Ice cream. Cute puppies. Pretty flowers.”   “Oh, maybe for a time, but… I’m getting better.”   “You look like you’re trying not to bolt.”   “Well, actually…” She was blushing. “I was wondering what you’d look like, with your head on my lap, like a pillow.”   “That’s a bit forward.”   “I’m sorry.”   “But cute, just like I’d expect from Kimi or Ami. Should I fetch the plum ice cream?”   “You got plum ice cream? I thought only Meihomei and the Domei of Lavali had it.” She’s trying not to bounce on her feet now.   “I asked Meihomei for permission to keep a stash here, for when she visits.”   “Ohhh.” She looked unsteady.   “You going to be ok?”   “No, I’m going to need some spoon fed plum ice cream.” She winked.   “Oh, spoon fed too? You drive a hard bargain. Come along.” He reached for her hand, and gently dragged her to the mansion’s main kitchen, three levels below.   “Whew, that was a walk. Nice, big place you got here, Mister Manager.”   “What?”   “I thought all fetishes called you that…”   “No, at least, Kimi hasn’t since I proposed.”   “Oh, yeah, a fiancée wouldn’t…”   “What’s it mean though?”   “Just that, Mister Manager, like you’re my manager, someone who helps my career?”   “Not your agent though, but your manager?”   “I’ve read somewhere it’s because Merlyn was pretty bossy.”   “Oh, you like to read, like Kimi?”   “Mostly the romances.” She said, lightly.   “I bet.” He said, unconvinced. “You take a bowl or a cone with your ice cream?”   “Bowl please, the pretty little one with the purple grapes there.”   “There you go.” He says, dolloping ice cream on it until full.   “Hmm..”   “Come along.”   “What? Where are we going?”   “You’re not sitting in my lap in the kitchen, what would people think…”   “Oh.” She turned crimson. “You weren’t kidding?”   “It’ll help you relax.”   “Hey, no trying to look down my cleavage like that!”   “Isn’t that why girls sit in a man’s lap, though, hoping he’ll be at least a little bit improper?”   She blushed again. “Maybe a little, when they’re handsome…” She trailed a finger on his bicep. “Sometimes maybe a bit more improper too…” She blushed again, thinking *I can’t believe I said that… I can’t believe what I’m thinking either, what’s gotten over me, hoping he’ll cop a feel...*   “Open up, one more spoonful of ice cream, beep beep.”   “Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. This is a fun game Mister Manager.”   “I’m not your manager though…”   “You are, well inasmuch as I have a manager, it’s you.”   “What about Hamburg?”   “He’s more like a coach.”   “Oh, what’s he teaching you to do?”   “He and I share a love of Casho. He’s pretty good in goal too.. And he’s the assistant coach of the Megamisama Valkyries”   “And you? What do you do?”   “I’m the striker, no one ever seems to see me coming until I head the ball into goal.”   “A little thing like you?”   “I’m really fast though. And I’m pretty good at jumping.”   “Another scoop. Open up.”   “Hmm, won’t your wife mind that you’re doing this?”   “My wives are giving me today off, and taking time for themselves.”   “Won’t they be jealous anyways?”   “No, we’ve been over this. I got enough on my plate trying to keep 8 wives happy with them wondering who else is getting some.”   “You got 8 wives?!”   “Two wives, six fiancées, until next month.”   “Same time as Hamburg?”   “Same ceremony, we figured if we got married we would do it in style, and do a double marriage.”   “Oh, who’s he marrying?”   “Maelle Comma. You jealous?”   “No, I never really had a chance with Hamburg, I just thought he was a lot more into Caith.”   “Well, now that he’s a noble, he can marry more of his circle, maybe he will. I am marrying them all..”   “Not yet, you only are marrying the first 8.”   “What? You think I’m going to marry all 16?”   “Hmm, well, I’ve not known you that long, but, if I was, say, Ami, from your defensive circle, and I got you to feed me plum ice cream or plum cake like this…” She wriggled on his lap. “I’d certainly think about it…”   “Oh, should I be worried?”   “No, it wouldn’t help.” She giggled. “Just don’t think it’s impossible, I do think it’s possible, if you both want it, that’s all.”   “I see what you mean… What’s this about being in my lap like this?”   “Hmm, you’re just very handsome like this, and it’s a very… vulnerable position.”   “Yeah, you could just knock your head down, and I’d be bent over…”   “Well, I could, and as a player of Casho, I assure you, it’d hurt, but we try to only hit with the front of the head, the back’s riskier… But I didn’t mean vulnerable like that...”   “What did you mean then?”   “Hmm, that I feel totally in your power like this… It’s so… intimate. And I feel emotionally vulnerable.”   “I won’t pretend I didn’t think about it, but I don’t want you to be uncomfy either…”   “Hmm, no, I’m comfy. If you’re sure it’s with your wives and fiancées, that is.” She wriggled again, her dress cleavage opening up slightly.   “Yeah, we had this long, very acrimonious discussion, but we managed to hammer it out by the end of the afternoon.”   “It took that long?”   “Half an hour for each one, give or take? I expected it to be longer, I’m counting my lucky stars it wasn’t an hour each.”   “Hmm, and what was agreed on?”   “Hmm, they’re my wives, and I love them, I will cherish them always. But because they’re so many of them, it’s like a timeshare, they get my whole and undivided attention at night according to a schedule, and the schedule kinda blurs over the preceding and following day. But on a day like today, I have the day to myself. They had to agree to that and a bunch of other details before I agreed to the marriage, and if they have trouble with the rules, in the future, we get dismarried, get new rules and remarried, no passive aggressive stuff.”   “And they don’t insist you take the day off from other women?”   “They can’t, the Millenium Curse says my line will last the more kids I have, and with the demons already trying, I have to get as many descendants as possible, not all of them with my official wives.”   “So you have concubines?”   “Concubines, lovers, one night stands, trips to the glory hole, visits to the fertility clinic under an alias.”   “And your schedule isn’t killing you?”   “No, my first wife manages it, and she’s doing a pretty good job of resting me.”   “But?”   “But what?”   “Doesn’t she want more of you?”   “If I get burnt out, I might get killed, or someone on the circle, we don’t mess around with that.”   “Oh, so everyone has to stay topped up?”   “As much as possible, but being fully topped up only got possible when we added Mishal and Sosua.”   “Oh, junior centers?”   “Yeah, learners.”   “I heard they were pretty cute.”   “I’m sure you’d find them so, should I make the introductions?”   “Won’t their girlfriends mind?”   “Sosua’s will, but Ami’s being reasonable.”   “Then just introduce me to Ami and Mishal then, I wanted to meet the understudy fetishest for some time, since she’s above me.”   “Should I just invite you two, Kimi and Mishal to low tcha?”   “Oh, you are a gentleman and a scholar, that would be so cool.”   “Damn, you are heavier than you look, I’m starting to feel pins and needles.”   “Yeah, sorry, all that muscling up I do for Casho.”   “Just hold still.” He shifts under her. “Ahh, much better."   "You do look really good from this angle."   ..Later   “Thanks for having me for Tcha, you bring in anyone else?”   “Yeah, Mishal, Ami and Rucca Milone, from Megamisama.”   “My, my, is it a cosplay fete?”   “I wouldn’t know where to begin, no, it’s low tcha. Rucca mentioned over ice cream she’d like to meet you three.”   “Plum Ice Cream, I bet? My my, aren’t you showing off.”   “What? You think I’d share some of Meihomei’s favored stuff?”   “Before it goes bad? Certainly… It’d be an insult to throw it away.”   “Good thing I have a seneschal to take care of all that.”   “Yeah, where are the others?”   There was a rap at the door.   “Hi! I’m not interrupting, am I, Fetishest?”   “No, I was just asking who was coming, and I’ve heard quite a bit about you, even if you live so far away.”   “Oh, I could never live up to the hype, I’m sure, especially if its saucy!”   Another rap, more authoritative, this time.   “Hey Ami, don’t break down my door, we heard you just fine.”   “Ooops, sorry.”   “Come on in Mishal, did you do those exercises I assigned?”   “Sure did, damn, I feel I broke a kidney.”   “Sorry, they are a bit strenuous, but you’ll thank me later, when you need the stamina.”   “Yeah, yeah, doing the introductions?”   “Hi, I’m Rucca, I’m on third circle in Megamisama, I’m from Fetish..”   “I’m Mishal Saumar, spare centre trainee of first circle, Feral element.”   “Oh, you’re a bad boy too? Pooh.”   “He’s not that bad, really.” Ami just walked into his arms, claiming a kiss.   “Hey, showing off is in bad taste.”   “Yeah Ami, don’t boink him before tcha, you’re supposed to wait till after.”   “Till after what?”   “Well, at least till after tcha, I presume you'll go home too, hopefully.”   “And you’re?”   “I’m remiss, Rucca, this is Kimi Naloli, Meiho-Aumhivina of Dunkehl and Fetishest.”   “Boss!?”   “Yeah, I’m your boss, yeah, you’re my understudy, just like Ami.”   “She’s… higher ranking obviously.”   “Well, first understudy, meet third.”   “Oh. Second circle?”   “Second doesn’t have anyone from Fetish in their outer rings, I keep telling them that’s a mistake, but they’re not correcting that anytime soon. Mrs. Stuffing won’t be joining us.”   “That name sure sounds so stuffy!”   “Well, she’s not, she’s an expert cosplayer, when she’s not involved in the gothloli lifestyle.”   “Oh, Is she Elegant?”   “No, she’s a master at Edo, Slik, Mei and Ero.”   “I’ve barely heard of those styles.”   “Except for Ero, they’re styles coming in from Moniq, and popular in Simular and Veneer.”   “You’re obviously familiar with the differences.”   “Yes, the Fetishest publishes the Catalogs, after all, I try to keep up to date.”   “Forgive me, catalogs?”   “Yes, the official catalogs for each of those styles, that determine what makes sense to wear as part of a genre, or to impersonate a specific character as part of a Fetish ritual.”   “Are there many characters?”   “We’re past 9000 femme styles, and 2000 more masculine.”   “That many? But I thought fetish was mostly women?’   “Even Ami’s been known to rock with a guy’s wig. In fact, that’s one thing that Sothlee has trouble doing, that Ami just demolishes at.”   “Oh, so Sothlee is Executive Secretary, but she still partakes of Fetish?”   “She’s strongest in Physical, then Fetish THEN Duty, her routine with the glasses and the guns is highly thought of.”   “And Ami?”   “Last time I saw Ami rocking a Slik style, I needed a cold shower.”   “Funny you should mention that, I had a weird dream, and decided to pack my Slik-style dress under my regular one. I could demonstrate, if you want, after tcha.”   “That would be splendid dear, did you talk to Mishal about joining us for Fetishnight?”   “No, it completely slipped my mind! I’m sorry.”   “Well, I’m sure your demonstration will help to convince him then.”   “Tcha is served.”   “Have you gone back to see your shoots?”   “Last month, I got flowers for Pom and Misty, but the thorns got me good too.”   “What? You picked the flowers?”   “Not all of them, just a dozen.”   “Just how big is that tcha bush?”   “It’s overgrowing the boulder we planted at the base of.”   “Boulder?”   “A rock.”   “I know that dear, but that doesn’t tell us how big.”   “Oh, silly me, here. These are the pictures we took when we planted.”   “Oh, so the boulder is twice as tall as your grown-man self, if I judge the scale correctly?”   “Yeah, and four paces across, it’s as far as I know, an outcrop of the rock that caps the central ritual room.”   “What? That’s the peak of main ritual?”   “Judging from the angles, main ritual’s eight angled walls make an octogonal pyramid that meets to a point in the centre of that boulder.”   “But main ritual is HUGE.”   “I know, trust me, the boulder is not small. Here’s what it looks like now. After I picked 12 roses and got a thorn in heel of my hand that felt I was going to need amputation.” Holding his phone, they see the boulder covered with flowery vines, some three-hundred-and-sixty rose-like flower clearly visible, each a lovely deep red, just shy of blood-colored.”   “What? You barely see the boulder.”   “Yeah, ‘lil green’, which is what I called my shoot, is growing nicely.”   “Are Misty’s and Pom’s the same size?”   “They were last year, but they were growing on a pair of trees. Then they kept growing all year long."   “And?”   “The trees are still there, but dead, apparently they didn’t like thorns either. If anything, lil green is the smaller of the three.”   “What?”   “Those trees were oaks, a pace and change across. Peaceblossom and Clovertcha just choked and thorned them to death. Here, see for yourself.” The pictures on his smartphone were oceans of green tea-like leaves, and purple roses on one, and white on the other.   “Just how big does tcha get anyways?”   “It never stops growing as long as it’s alive. Merlyn’s own Temple Guardian is a risk to hikers.”   “It’s bigger?”   “It’s bigger than Kannie’s. And even birds try not to fly too close when it’s windy.”   “What, Kannie’s, the restaurant?”   “Kannie’s House, the building the restaurant is in, sorry, I should have been more specific.”   “But… isn’t there a massage parlor on that second floor?”   “Just how tall do you think Temple Guardian is, considering it’s been growing for several hundred arnds?”   “You’re pulling my leg!”   “Look, I took a picture too. There’s a reason you can’t go hiking on Mountain Home anymore.” Showing a tree growing next to a trail sign. A tower is built maybe 20 metres behind, carrying aerial navigation aids.   “Did anyone think about maybe trimming some branches?”   “There was a trimming detail trimming branches every month the first few years. Turns out it made it grow faster, they stopped. It’s kept growing until about 10 years ago, the same year we planted our shoots.”   “Isn’t it supposed to grow until it’s dead?”   “Well it’s not noticeably growing, but it’s replenishing broken branches, etc.. It’s alive, just not threatening Dunkehl Village with a vine invasion, something for which I am grateful.”   “It’s how many thousand paces from here?”   “Bout two and a half, well, it’s bough is from 2700 paces to 2300 paces almost.”   “You can’t call a thing that size a bush.”   “It stretches my definition of a tree, too. But the leaves make delicious tcha.”   “What?”   “What do you think we drink on Darkest Day? Not that Temple Guardian notices, we’ve not harvested more than 10% in living memory.”   “But the party is huge!”   “Yeah, but the guards don’t drink tcha on duty, and there’s more guards than guests. At any rate, any tcha plantation that size would be a rich one. It’s just unusual that it’s a single bush.”   “Would you let the guards drink?”   “I’m told there’s theological reasons highest tcha can only be shared with guests.”   “High-est tcha?”   “High Tcha on Darkest Day, it’s sometimes called Dark Tcha, but most people call it highest tcha.”   “Hmm, wait, this is little green?”   “No, it’s Clovertcha, Pom’s turn to harvest.”   “You make your women work?”   “Mom never has any truck with that women are less capable than men, you know, so if they want me to do something for them I expect my wives to at least tell me.”   “Oh, well it certainly keeps things simpler, I bet?”   “Some simpler, Misty… still likes being obscure from time to time, just not Pom.”   “Did Pom need healing?”   “No, Forbidden has a spell to protect themselves while doing anything dangerous, called “Immunity to everything”, it quite lives up to its name, apparently.”   “Oh, so she can do it at no cost to herself?”   “Less than to me, for sure. Look.” He showed were he removed a knuckle-long thorn from the heel of his hand.   “Ouch, that must have smarted.”   “Ami, you will be getting ready?”   “Oh, sure, you got a screen I can change behind, Dreamy Domei Dan?”   “Yeah, there’s one right there.”   She walks off, then removes her semi formal wool skirt and jacket, having cleverly used the qipao’s upper half as a blouse. Then she pulled out her bamboo umbrella from her pack, and started walking for the other guests.   “Oh, my!”   “You said it, Dan.”   “Oh, you boys like?” Ami tittered, hiding her face behind the umbrella’s scrolls, turning around a bit, framing the backs of her legs with the qipao, .   “I want it known on the record my brain and most of my senses have left the building.”   “What Mishal said, dammmmmmmn.”   Ami kept walking, just bending this way and that, teasing how the very short skirt of the Qipao would naturally let something slip, it’s so short. But apparently sorcery is involved, and she remains decent.   “What, did you boys think my skirt would slip?”   “I…” Mishal stammered.   “If anything, I think it was sexier because it didn’t.” interposed Dan.   “Oh and you liked that, Dreamy Domei Dan?”   “Yeah, yeah, I can see his stiffie from here Ami Meiho, like I said, quit showing off.”   “But that was the point dear Rucca, she’s got both guys eating out of the palm of her hand. Fetishnight is coming, I expect both of you, and Mrs. Stuffing, to be out of this world, this year.”   “Where is fetishnight, this year?”   “We won the draw, so we can have it in Mountain Home. I’ve already asked for help in setting up, we don’t want stray winds in the main show area.”   “What about fire?”   “All the elements will be at peace for our one night dear, we might want to make sure we leave on time though.”   “Oh, of course. Are we hosting anyone at the manor?”   “Anyone who’s had too much to drink, and anyone living outside the village can ask to stay, the latter just need to let me know in advance. It’s usually a few hundred, so I sometimes need to create artificial bubbles.”   “Oh, how many bubbles, last year?”   “None, was in Kimaguray, very many were locals. The year before I needed to create 20 bubbles, to hold maybe 120 folks.”   “Oh, that’s a lot of people.”   “Yeah, but they’re usually partying pretty hard, I didn’t hear any complaints, even if the bubble aren’t quite that big.”   “And how many guests total?”   “Over six hundred people will be flipping in dear. I expect a hundred locals, but that always changes depending on who can’t make a costume they like for the cosplay festival.”   “Oh, I guess you need judges?”   “Oh thank you dear, but the judges are the three ladies you see here, plus Mrs. Stuffing.”   “Wouldn’t an outside perspective help?”   “Not for this, although I will ask you if we need a tie breaker, there are four of us, after all. As the liege of Dunkehl, you’re the natural choice.”   “Ami, what was that earlier, about me being invited? You know I’m not really a cosplayer, right?”   “Oh, I’m sure I can dress you up dear, and the competition is a bit less fierce between our guests who don’t follow the faith.”   “Oh?”   “Well, duh, those who follow the faith have magically enhanced costumes, so of course, they’ll be better.”   “Oh, were you boosted, like a few minutes ago?”   “Oh, my Moniquan number? No, I will show a magical cosplay at fetishnight, though, I haven’t decided which one.”   “But I thought you’re a judge?”   “I am, this is outside the competition. It should help spice up the debate though.”   “I’m surprised no one mentioned the team, none of you casho fans?”   “Not particularly, I do catch a game of the Veneer Golden Eagles from time to time.”   “But not the Elements?”   “The Elements?”   “The Dunkehl Elements, the local casho team, haven’t won in a while, but have the busiest trophy room in the league.”   “Euh, no, in fact, I don’t know where they’d even play.”   “The field is outside the village, on the side of Mountain Home about 90 degress away from the village. The field is past Temple Guardian if you take the wrong path there.”   “What?”   “Rei’s a wicked striker, we should go see her play more often.”   “Wouldn’t it be awkward? We never did before.”   “She’s our friend, and of course, we want her to do good, we should go at least once. We can take Miss Milone here to teach us about the sport, and spare Rei the agony.” Kimi said, all but winking.   “You mean, your friend plays for the ELEMENTS?” Rucca asked Ami.   “Sosua, Sothlee and Xiang too.”   “Ouch.” Interjected Kimi.   “You know sorcerors aren’t supposed to use powers on the field.”   “No, and I know casho tries to minimize contact too, but Sothlee? She sits on someone, they’ve got a broken leg.”   “You exaggerate, and she is doing much better lately, I had fun last time.”   “What about Xiang? And how did she manage to play for us? Isn’t her dad owning his own casho league?”   “Yeah, but he’s in Moniq, if he wants to play her, he has to ask her to move nicely, and he won’t do that. She would tell him to take a hike anyways.”   “I was just thinking there’d be trouble in the inter-league championship.”   “We’ll worry when we get there, they could just not play Xiang if it’s an issue.”   “Xiang would have a fit.”   “Why?”   “She’s very competitive, and proving her Dad she’s better than he thinks she is, is something really important to her. Having her not play because they think she’d throw the game… I’m not going near her if there’s anything she can throw.”   “That… may be wise. Misty’s got nothing on Xiang’s throwing arm.”   ..A few days later   Earlmage’s casho field, Dukehl   “Nice green you got there, Mister Manager.”   “I’m not the manager.”   “Well they named the place after you! I think that means they like you.”   “Named after Merlyn, 4th Earlmage, not me.”   “And you’re the 35th?”   “36th. And hush, we’re just a bunch of friends coming to enjoy the game, I don’t want any fuss.”   ”Go ELLLLLLSSSSSSSSSSS! For the Earlmage!” Rang the announcer’s cry all over the field. “It seems we have distinguished visitors today, The EL’s star players’s circle mates are in the audience, starting with Dunkehl’s own Earlmage!” The roar that came out of the maybe 1000 people was staggering, the more so, since nominally, Dunkehl village is a village of 500…. Then a spark flew and a hush appeared to settle on the stadium."   “Hey Mom.”   “Hey, Dan.” She kissed her son’s cheek. “Come to take in the game?”   “I all but forgot we even had a team, let alone that I knew about half the players. You have your own box?”   “Circle has a box, since we’re bankrolling the team. One big enough for the whole circle, plus guests, you certainly could make a habit of coming, seems you’re a hit with the locals.”   “Yeah, what happened with that announcer, he’s not calling out goals?”   “Someone from the arena is coming to talk to me, I suspect they know.”   “The feedback from the ovation, blew the fuses on half the electronics. I don’t know if we have enough spares, and if we did, there’s so many, I don’t think we can replace them all even by the end of the game.”   “Couldn’t you just postpone the game?”   “Well, this time of year, it’ll be dark soon.”   “Oh, yeah, we can’t risk player injuries either. Well, thanks for letting me know. I’ll get the word out.”   “What? You can yell that loud mom?”   “It’s a simple application of wind dear, nothing to get worried about.”   “ATTENTION YOUR VOCAL ENCOURAGEMENTS FOR THE LOCAL HEARTTHROB BROKE THE SOUNDSYSTEM, WE’LL GET A BETTER ONE SOON, I HOPE, BUT FOR NOW, OUR ANNOUNCER WILL CONTINUE WITH A MEGAPHONE.”   “Aw mom, didja have to call me a heartthrob?”   “I sure did, just how many girls did I have to pull off you, so far? Six, seven?”   “Mom!”   “Well, I did. Who’s the new chiquita?”   “Oh, Rucca? She’s a visitor from Hamburg’s circle. Kimi and her are planning an Element Fest in mountain home.”   “Oh, I knew about the festival, she’s part of that?”   “Seems she’s just two notches under Ami.”   “Oh, what’s her specialty? Short skirts? Glasses?”   “Short shorts, she’s a Casho player and fan. Just watch her going GO ELS, over there.”   “You should fetch everyone, they’ll see better from here.”   “And we’ll be seen better, too.”   “It’s a sensible trade off, plus, we’ve put in a lot of cash into this team, it’s only reasonable we see the result, and are seen, caring about the results.”   “Coming right back.”   “You got a BOX at EL stadium?”   “The circle is technically a part owner dear, so most of the people you’ve met are part owners of the stadium and the team.”   “What? I’ve died, and gone to heaven. Palé? Ignacho? Dos Santos?”   “They all played down there. And had someone from the circle watching. Merlyn founded the team, after all, that’s why the stadium’s named after him.”   “I thought he founded the Espers too?”   “He played for the Espers, but founded the Elements.”   “Oh, neat! Hey, that’s it Rei, goooooooooooooooooooooal!”   “You notice anything about those two?”   “The body language Mom? Yeah, it’s plain as day.”   “What are you two talking about?”   “Just seeing two people who are trying to hide something.”   “What? I don’t see it.”   “I do, not that it’s news to me anyways.”   “What is it?”   “Oh, just Rei and Sothlee trying to hide how attracted they are to one another.”   “Oh, is it a problem?”   “No, well not for us, but I don’t think their minds are on the game enough. Good thing the Golden Eagles aren’t playing their best either.”