User blog:Ore-samma/My Red Oni (no lewd)

Sometimes, the story takes form and shape on its own accord.

This story, I just can't make it lewd. So there it is.

Also- It was my intention that Bobbi's speech is hard to understand. Did a English-to-Scottish dialect translator.

Ever your servant

-Ore-Samma

“Sister! Please watch where you are going! Honestly!” Tammy huffed, tugging the gourd away from her Red Oni sibling. “You should wait till we get to the city! Drinking too much sake will slow us down!”

“Wheesht! a'm druthy Tammy!” Bobbi protested, licking the sake from her lips and reaching for the gourd. “Awright! gimme mah boattle back!”

“I do not think so!” Tammy scolded. “This is the fifth time you bumped into me, and you’re starting to stumble everywhere! You’re gonna end up falling off the mountain path and then where would we be?”

“Yer ower exaggerate hings! ah donder braw! a'm aye druthy! a'm needin' something tae haud back mah thirst!”

“Tcccssshhh!” Tammy scoffed and handed over her water skin. “No more sake till we get into the city. And watch where you are going! Our poor cart has seen enough abuse for the day!”

Bobbi grasped the water skin and took a gulp. “Cooncil juice? yer sae pure nasty!” She cried out, coughing a little and took another gulp. “What a foul taste! whaur did ye git this fae?”

Tammy just shook her head and continued on. Seriously! Her sister was drinking their profits like there was no tomorrow! She wondered how much longer it would take to finally get to the bottom of the mountain to the city where their buyer was waiting for the raw ores her and her sister dug from the ground.

The sun was fully set by the time they reached the gates, and not a moment too soon as Bobbi’s whining and complaining were getting on her last nerve.

“Druthy! druthy! druthy! druthy!”

“QUIET! I know you are thirsty!” Tammy bellowed, causing the guards at the gate to lower their weapons just as they arrived.

“Alright!” One of the guards, a Wyvern with male guard who was obviously her husband, barked out “What business do you have here!”

Tammy opened her mouth, ready to explain-

“Awright! na need fur that!” Bobbi bursted out, nearly knocking Tammy over as she came forward with her hands open. “We ur juist 'ere tae trade oor mined goods 'n' tae sloch, dram, rest 'n' be merry! bit mostly, juist tae dram! a'm sae druthy! whaur is th' howf?”

The Wyvern’s face turned into even more of a scowl as she looked from Bobbi to Tammy.

“What the heck did she say?”

Bobbi’s face now turned to a scowl, “Urr ye deaf? ah juist said -”

“AHEM!” Tammy coughed and nudged her sister aside. “My apologies, allow me to introduce myself; I am Tammy Greypath, and this is my sister Bobbi. We have come from the Two Rivers mining outpost and are here to trade with the Oaken Blacksmith Guild”

Tammy blew her breath out a little, seeing  the Wyvern’s face relax and lose some of its harshness and continued. “As for what my sister said; please forgive her, she was raised in the North; past the Green Mountains. She talks a differently than the southern dialects, but she can understand it. She said we are here to trade our goods and to get some food and drink and rest.”

The Wyvern pulled her war spear back up to a neutral posture and looked over to her husband. “What does the list say?”

The man nodded. “Yep, the Guild has their information here. It all checks out; names, business, and descriptions.”

The Wyvern now smiled and blew out her own relieved breath. “Good. There’s been some danger finding its way here. The eastern war has had some overflow here.” Her face grew stern again and she spoke, seeming to recite a memorized script. “There is a curfew in effect until further notice. Travel about the city streets after dark is forbidden with the only exceptions being for medical and safety emergencies.” She looked to the sky, “You have less than a quarter of an hour to reach the Hanged Man tavern. If we catch you on the streets after dark, you will be arrested and fined.”

“Got it! Thank you, and we’ll be on our way!” Tammy quickly interjected as she clasped a hand to Bobbi’s mouth before she could quip back.

(Later)

Tammy sighed, glad to have secured their trade cart and was setting down her pack and getting ready to turn in when Tammy set her gourd down and belched.

“Is thare ony mair tae dram? mah boattle is hee haw!”

“No,” Tammy sighed “I already gave you all of my share of the sake.” She quickly smacked Bobbi’s hand as it drew near the coin purse. “Ah! No you don’t! You’ve almost cut into all of your share of the profits already!” She stuffed the coin purse away and placed her hands on her hips.

“Bobbi! Seriously! What is wrong with you? Drinking yourself into a stupor is not going to make things better! You have to get over-” She stopped as she saw tears form in her sisters eyes.

“How come did ye say that?” Bobbi sniffed.

Tammy sniffed a little too. It had been a hard year for them both, but especially for Bobbi. She sighed wondering as she did many times before if there was anything she could have done to save her sister’s late husband.

It was almost half a year ago, Bobbi and Mark were deep in the mine, when a pocket of gas vented into their space. Bobbi tried to carry Mark out, coughing and struggling in the poisonous air, she barely made it out; her monstrous strength and resilience protected her, but Mark wasn’t so lucky…. By the time she carried him out, he was already long gone.

“You have to pull it together, Bobbi!” Tammy begged. “I am literally watching you killing yourself! I can’t lose my only sister!”

Bobbi wailed and buried her face in her hands. “Bit whit if a'm waantin' tae die? did ye think o' that?”

Tammy wiped her own eyes, listening to her sister cry and her desire to join her husband was killing her as well. She brought her sister close and held her, rocking back and forth. “Shhh, Bobbi, I am so sorry. I don’t know how, but I promise. It will get better! Please, believe me!”

(POV break)

There they were, just on time.

“Ah! The Greypath sisters!” I exclaimed seeing the Red and Blue Oni make their way into the receiving bay.

“Hello Justin!” Tammy said with a smile and wave.

I smiled back and took Tammy’s extended hand, and turned to be crushed half to death by Bobbi. “Oof! Well, ahem! It’s almost been a year since I’ve seen you last! How is-” I stopped as I noticed Tammy standing behind Bobbi with an alarmed expression and gesturing, silently mouthing something.

I coughed, “Ahem well, yes! Let’s see what you’ve got here!” I had no idea what might have been wrong, but I decided to cut any small talk and stick to business.

I walked over to their trade card and pulled back the canvas.

“Good heavens!” I exclaimed. There was not only the raw iron ore that the guild requested, but the two girls managed to secure Mithryl! “Do you know what this is?” I said holding up a piece of the Mithryl ore.

“Silver?” Bobbi said with a shrug. “Crakin' 'n' bonny that ore is.”

I chuckled and shook my head. “No, but I can see where you would think that! This just might be Mithryl! You girls just brought in an exceptional haul!” I placed my fingers to my lips and whistled out. “BOSS! You’re gonna want to see this!”

My boss, a surly dwarf named Yith’mir came over and, his eyes immediately locked onto the Mithryl ore. “Laddie! is this ore whit ah think it's?”

I shrugged. “I don’t have the equipment with me, but it certainly has the right color and weight. Thought you should look at it.”

Yith’mir nodded as he took his file and shaved a few flecks into a bottle and whistled over another assistant who brought a clear liquid that was added to the powder. The liquid immediately turned a bright purple blue and glowed.

I grinned seeing my boss smile for the first time I could recall and turned to the two girls. “Ladies, you just became seriously rich.”

“My goodness!” Tammy gasped.

“Braw!” Bobbi exclaimed, slapping me on my back and squeezed her arm around my shoulders. “Ah cannae wait tae dram tae this guid fortuin!”

I froze as Bobbi’s arm lingered and as she pressed her chest into me. Wasn’t she married? Where was Mark? I looked up and noticed Tammy with that same alarmed expression. She flicked her eyes sideways to Bobbi next to me and shook her head and subtly pointed to her ring finger and shook her head again.

“Well, I am certainly happy for you!” I said carefully and patted Bobbi’s hand and eased from her embrace that she almost didn’t release me from. I’ll write up the banknote and you’ll be able to divide the payout as usual.

Tammy coughed and handed Bobbi a coin purse. “Say, Bobbi… how about you go ahead and get a head start? I’ll see to the transaction.”

“Ta! ah think ah wull dae that!” Bobbie crowed and skipped off toppling over my boss as she collided into him.

“Watch whaur yer gaun ye haunless eejit oaf!”

“Speak fur yersel' ye paukit stump!”

“Tosspot!”

“Wanker!”

Both Tammy and I watched them continue their verbal sparring as Bobbie continued to skip off.

“Now,” I cleared my throat and turned back to Tammy. “What was that all about? You looked like you were about to have a heart attack.”

Tammy sighed and shook her head. “Mark is dead. It’s been about seven months, died in Bobbi’s arms as she tried to carry him out of a mine gas leak.”

I sucked in a pained breath and let it out. “Oh…. damn, I am so sorry.”

Tammy shook her head. “Don’t be, it wasn’t your fault. But I am so worried for Bobbi. She seems determined to drink herself to death.” She glanced back in the direction where she left. “I’m just so glad that I told the Tavern to not allow her to have a tab, and to spread the word to the other drinking holes. Otherwise, she would drink both our profits away.” She turned back to me. “Speaking of, how much is the shipment worth?”

I grinned, handing over the banknote my boss just finished signing with the guilds’ seal. “Two hundred thousand gold sovereigns.”

Tammy gasped and took the banknote with trembling hands. “Thank you!” She said, placing the note away.

“Well,” I said, my voice going low and more even. “Please give my condolences to Bobbi. I-”

“-Maybe you can come celebrate with us?” Tammy said, placing her hand on my arm. “I’m sure Bobbi would appreciate your company!”

“Well I-”

“-Please?” Tammy begged, tightening her grip a little.

“Tammy, seriously? Is that even appropriate? Did she even have enough time to mourn?”

Tammy just lowered her head a little. “No. Maybe not.” She raised her head. “But seriously! I don’t know what to do anymore!”

I tapped my chin and thought for a moment. “You know, I think I have an idea. There’s this Ryu in town, a potion maker. I think she may be able to help.”

Tammy clasped her hands together as her face lit into a joyous expression.

The day passed in great spirits as the news spread of the new shipment of Mithryl, the profits for the year were going to be exceptional, and even our greedy, grouchy boss let us go early.

“Now this is what I’m talking about!” I exclaimed as I settled into my favorite corner of the Tavern with some Shepherds Pie and fish and chips!

“Justin?”

I looked up, my mouth still full of food and saw Tammy standing close.

I swallowed and grinned. “Tammy! Is everything okay?” I felt my grin slip as Tammy’s expression was a little strained.

“Well, kind of.” She gestured. “May I sit with you?”

I nodded and took another bite and noticed Tammy placing a small potion on the table.

“This is what the Ryu sold me. It is a detox potion.” She raised her eyes to me. “It will completely remove all traces of drink from my sister… and this….” She placed another bottle down. “This should enhance Bobbi’s speech. She will need it, if we are to stay in this region.”

I swallowed and took a drink of mead. “Yeah! I heard something about that! What was it? The spirit energy for a husband to a Red Oni mixes in with sake?”

Tammy nodded and sighed. “The Ryu said that Bobbi should drink this when she is with a man she has feelings for. Said that drinking is the last part of Mark that Bobbi won’t let go of. That if it was gone her mourning would be fulfilled and she could properly bond with another man… another husband.” She looked from the bottle and leveled her gaze to mine.

“What? Me?” I said feeling my face burn.

“Only if you want to.” She shrugged. “You and my sister have always gotten along, and she was just talking about how cute you are.”

My face burned hotter as I drank more of the mead. “Uh, I see.”

“Justin, I know this is sudden. I know that it seems like I just want to use you for my own means and ends.” She put the bottles away. “But if you have any doubts or reservations about this, I understand. It’s not a small thing I brought before you, but there isn’t anyone else my sister even remotely likes. Oh, I’m sure it will happen as time passes, but I’ve seen the way you looked at my sister the many times we were here. I want you to be happy, but I want her to be happy too.” She stood, “But I can’t force this on her or you. It would have to be pure.”

I felt an enormous rush and stood with Tammy. “Give me the potions.”

(Later)

“Whit? urr ye serious? ye think ye kin speil ony kind o' swallyin gam wi' me?”

I shook my head and finger. “I didn’t say ‘drinking game’ I said a ‘bet that involves drinking’ ”

“Ye mak' me roar, okay whit dae ye hae in mynd?”

“First!” I said, placing the speech enhancement bottle down. “Tammy said that you two are gonna be staying for a while, and she got this as a gift. Said it would make it so everyone could easily understand you. How about that?”

“Urr ye serious? sure! let us hae that!” Bobbi exclaimed and quaffed the potion down.

“Strange, I don’t feel any different- hey wait!” She placed her hands to her mouth. “Did you hear that? I talk all funny now!” She began to roar with laughter, holding her sides. “That is the most funny thing, yeah? Wow!” She licked her lips and the rim of the bottle, producing a show that made me feel all kinds of hot.

I cleared my throat, “Yes, well I’m glad you like it! There’s one more part to this game.” I set the other potion down. This is another potion that your sister got as a gift for you.

“Aye? And what does this one do?”

I waited for her eyes to raise from the potion to me. “It will completely detox you from all the alcohol in your system.” I paused for a moment and continued quickly. “Just think! You get to experience sake like it was the very first time, and it'll even the playing field.”

“I dunno, I… this somehow feels wrong.” Bobbi said, shaking her head, her eyes now seeming to be a little wet.

“I know.” I said as I stood up and sat next to her. “The taste of sake is the last thing you enjoy and it reminds you of Mark.”

At the mention of Mark, Bobbi stiffened and gasped. “Did she- did Tammy tell you?”

I placed my arm around Bobbi’s shoulder, “She did, she just wants to-”

Bobbi shrugged my arm off- “Who said I wanted help? Why does everyone want to ‘help me’ when all I want- is- is…..” Her lips trembled as she buried her face in her hands.

After a moment she hefted her gourd that was almost as large as she was and began to guzzle the entire thing in one go; tears poured from her eyes and sake from the corner of her mouth.

After she was done I turned her face towards mine. “It isn’t the same anymore, isn't it?” I breathed.

“What are you on about?” Bobbi slurred.

“I know a thing or two about Red Oni’s… the taste of sake is different when they have a husband. The sake was mixed with his spiritual energy…. but now that it's gone the sake is like drowning in trying to remember the memory of a memory…. But it’s all you have left.”

Bobbi opened her mouth, but closed it, her lips came together and quivered.

I set the potion down and eased Bobbi’s hand over it. “Is it so wrong that I want to help you? Help ease your pain?”

“But what if I need this pain? What if I want this pain?” Bobbi cried out. She wiped her eyes and nose and tried to drink from the empty gourd. “What if letting go of this, means that I forget him forever? My love for him meant something! It was….”

I shrugged, “Would Mark want you to mourn him forever?” I leaned back as Bobbi kept her wet gaze on me. “Look, Bobbi… I like you. I always liked you, and I would certainly take you as my wife.” I smiled. “That is… if you’d have me too.”

(POV break)

Bobbi wiped her eyes again, trying to not remember the last thing Mark told her.

''Please Bobbi, I want you to be happy. Don’t let the opportunity to be happy pass you by. The greatest thing I ever did, was love you…. Please, let another hold your heart, and drink to your health like I did.''

Oh! She was so torn, but Justin was right, Tammy was right…. She couldn’t let drinking be nothing but full of sorrowful melancholy. She sniffed and looked at the potion.

“Oh… okay…. Okay...” She whispered and uncorked the bottle, and brought it to her lips. As she drank, she felt an immense pain attack her body everywhere. Her vision grew clear as the haze lifted and allowed the lights in the tavern to sparkle through the tears in her eyes.

And Bobbi cried, oh! How she cried as she felt the last lingering torturous phantoms of her late husband lift from her senses like a dream one desperately tries to remember. But unlike the dream, the memories remained…. But now… they were different. A dull ache instead of a maelstrom of agony.

Bobbi gasped, still sobbing. “Now wh-what?” She stammered.

“Now this.” Justin breathed. He poured a healthy amount of sake into a wooden bowl “This is a special brew that I got just for you, for this moment.” He picked up the bowl with two hands and held it out to Bobbi who also placed her hands on it, interlocking with his.

“To you, to Mark, and to us!” Justin breathed and took a sip of the sake.

Bobbi brought the bowl to her lips, still a little unaccustomed to this strange ritual-like method of drinking.

The moment the sake passed her lips, Bobbi felt an immense rush of joy and happiness crash about her entire being! She had forgotten what it was like to drink. What the taste of sake was. What it was like to drink to her health…. What…..

“So this is what love feels like?” She whispered.

Justin placed the now empty bowl down and cupped Bobbi’s cheek and brought her close.

“I think so. All I know is that I want you, here with me…. And if it is enough for you, it is enough for me too.

End.