Zoe tightened her grip on his arm, "Ignore them, Dave, 'Don't wrestle with pigs, all you'll get is filthy and the pigs will enjoy it,' let's just leave."
Dave and his friends turned and walked away, leaving the nasty couple seething at being called pigs then ignored and dismissed as nonentities. Anna turned to her fiance and started talking to him intensely, he didn't look like he was enjoying it.
"So, who is this ultrbabe with the danger vibe?" Ralph asked, looking at Caitlin.
Zoe started to answer, "This is Caitlin Giovanni-"
"Nice to meetcha, Caitlin," Ralph said as he went in for a hug. But Caitlin stopped his advance with a hand to his chest and a short choppy punch to his diaphragm. Ralph gasped, wheezed, and hunched over.
"Never without my permission!" Caitlin said, her eyes flashing.
Zoe snickered at Ralph.
"Let's grab a seat."
Dave and Caitlin followed her as Ralph staggered to the bar and leaned against it, hunched over and rubbing his stomach.
"I think I'm in love," Ralph wheezed.
Still sitting on her stool, Vanessa giggled at his antics.
"Ugh, I'm okay now, let's go join them," Ralph said to her, his breath mostly recovered.
"I think I'll just stay here," she answered with a sad smile.
Ralph patted her shoulder sympathetically, "You know, I had to do a lot of talking to get Dave to come here tonight. Don't let him get away like you did in high-school."
Vanessa looked at him quickly, a flush rising to her cheeks, "You knew?"
"Everyone knew, except Dave. He's really dense about some things."
"He has a girlfriend," Vanessa said.
"Zoe isn't his girlfriend," Ralph said. "He told me that himself. I think she is just a good friend. You still have a chance."
"It's an awkward situation," said Vanessa.
"Let's just see how things go, who knows?" Ralph said.
They followed after Dave and the other two women who'd gone into one of the private alcoves. The room was secluded and less noisy then the bar area, with a table and comfortable cushioned-chairs to lounge in.
"Ladies, this is Vanessa, a friend of ours from high school," Ralph said to Zoe and Caitlin.
Ralph dropped into the seat next to Dave which left Vaness the chair next to the girls. Ralph fiddled with the table menu and ordered drinks for everyone.
Dave leaned in toward Ralph and said, "What are you doing, man?"
Ralph smirked back, "Sit back bro, get ready to enjoy the show."
Zoe snickered, "And here I thought this was going to be another boring class reunion. What was that all about and who was the yucky couple?"
"It's a high school reunion, a lot of people don't grow-up, they just become pretentious twats," Ralph said.
"I'll tell you about them later," Dave added.
Ralph looked at Zoe, "So how do you and Dave know each other?"
"We met in Conquest," Dave interrupted.
Zoe added "And Caitlin is-"
"Mercy, the top assassin in Conquest, right?" Ralph interrupted.
Caitlin looked at Ralph in surprise.
"How did you know that?"
Sprawled in his seat like a sleepy lion, Ralph shrugged carelessly, "I have an eye for the babes and your avatar looks just like you."
"So the four of us play Conquest, What about you Vanessa?""
"I play too," Vanessa replied.
"Hm, so all five of us are players," Ralph said meaningfully. Five was the ideal party size in Conquest.
"What's your level?" Ralph asked Caitlin.
Caitlin looked at him consideringly before answering.
"428."
"Nice. Obviously you have the highest level of this group," Ralph said.
Caitlin shrugged.
"What about you Vanessa?"
"I'm a priestess, level 210, I don't get to play a lot with work and all, but I love it."
Ralph nodded, "What about you Zoe?"
"180."
"Not bad, I'm level 411. I guess you're low-man on the totem pole, Dave."
"You guess wrong."
"What level are you?"
"316."
"No way!"
"Seriously. I was lucky, got a chain quest and leveled quickly."
"I'll say. Really lucky!" Zoe piped up.
Ralph laughed, "Damn, and here I was going to ask this group of ladies to help level you up to 200 to meet the Devastators minimum. You're way past that."
"Dave has done great on his own," Zoe said, smiling. "But since you are being so nice I could really use some help!"
"Sure! I have some time, at least until the Eastern region Conquest starts. What about you Caitlin, want to help level up these noobs? I'm sure you're busy with contracts and kill orders to prepare for the invasion, but you could still tag along," Ralph said with a grin.
"I don't do dungeons or EXP parties. Hits and contracts, that's it."
"C'mon, Caitlin, it'll be fun," Zoe pouted.
"I'll think about it," Caitlin said.
"Okay, what's everyone's player name?" Ralph pulled out his phone.
Vanessa spoke first, "I'm Dementi."
"Okay." He sent Vanessa a friend request on the Conquest app.
"Dave...Dave! What's your player name?"
"Death Stroke," he finally answered reluctantly.
Dave looked at Caitlin and shook his head slightly, she shrugged understanding his wishes. He didn't want his Death Stroke character to be linked with his Mr. Skeletal identity.
"Ha! I should have known, you always use that."
The door to the alcove opened, and a man came in carrying a tray of drinks.
Ralph smiled, "I added Mercy, what about you Zoe?"
Zoe smiled, "Lone Arrow."
Overhearing Zoe's Conquest name, the waiter snapped around to look at her, almost dropping the tray of drinks on everyone.
"You're Lone Arrow, THE Lone Arrow?!" Ralph was equally shocked.
"Yeah," Zoe smiled.
Chapter end
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