I try to follow behind him, quickly falling to the floor and starting to crawl towards the door. I hear some shouting, so I pick up the pace. I get to the top of the stairs, finally starting to understand what they are saying.
Leo is shouting, "If you aren't going to tell me who started these rumors, I am going to have to start taking fingers from everyone."
Oh what the actual fuck! This is going too far!
The wolves claws are tapping behind me as I make my way down the stairs. I get down to the bottom to see Leo holding a guy who is twice their size over their head. Right, they dumped 90% of their skill points into strength...
The attendant from earlier walks out to Leo, "Some of the people talking about it have left, the one you are holding was not here when it happened."
"And you didn't stop it?!" They drop the man and turn to the attendant causing her to yelp in fear.
"I'm sorry, guild master!" She bows low.
Leo sighs, calming down a little. "Just tell me who did it that is here." They say with venom in their voice.
"Yes sir! The table over there was the main instigators," She says, pointing to a table full of men in metal armor. "most of the rest have left except for her." She points to a woman trying to sneak out. She freezes as she hears the receptionist call her out, slowly turning around to Leo.
Leo points at the woman, then points to the floor in front of them. She shakily walks over, standing in front of them.
"So you, a woman yourself, saw no issue in the things being said?" They ask, getting extremely close to the girls face.
"I-i-i'm sorry sir..."
"Would you like to explain yourself?"
"I um... I was just... um..."
"Mhhmmm?" Leo gets even closer, making the girl shrink back further. How much of a tomboy were you before!?
"I um, was jealous..." She looks to the floor.
"Jealous how?" Leo tilts their head.
"I thought, they looked too good..." Wut... I can only lean against the wall in bewilderment.
"That was it..?" Leo asks.
"Yes..."
"Get out of my guild hall, you are suspended until you can write a full apology to them, their name is Camaella, remember it."
"Yes sir!" She quickly leaves. That is, more tame than I thought you were going to be... but, jealous of my looks? I just made the character to my tastes...
"Now." He turns to the others. "If the rest of you who participated aren't here in front of me within 10 seconds I will start removing your heads from your bodies." And now you are threatening them with death!?!?!? Are you bipolar?!
Multiple people quickly jump up and rush over, standing before them.
"Kneel."
They all quickly get on their knees.
"Now, you all have no excuse, do you?"
One of them starts to speak up, getting a sharp look from Leo that shuts them up.
"You are all banned from here, permanently." They crouch down in front of them. "If I hear anymore of these rumors, I will assume it was one of you, and I will hunt every, single, one of you down until there is nothing of you left." They all quickly nod, trembling.
"Out." They all rush out, practically trampling each other as they get out of the door and almost run into someone just outside.
Leo turns back to the attendant, "All of the ones who participated are banned, if you see them, relay what I said to the others." He starts walking towards me. "Oh, and if something like that happens again, and you don't stop it, you will be fired."
She nods quickly and exaggeratedly, then rushes behind the counter and quickly confirming that the rest of the attendants heard. Leo lets out a sigh, walking over and helping me back up the stairs and into the room. He sets me back on the couch, the wolves walking over and nudging my leg. I pet them and look up to Leo.
"The hell was that?" I ask.
"I was making it clear to them I wasn't going to let that shit slide."
"Why were you so mad?"
"Because there are enough rumors about you already! If they spread something like that you will get people coming after you for... those reasons."
"They don't even know who I am though..."
"It doesn't matter! I am tired of the shitty rumors."
"Ugh... So um, how long do you think we are going to be like this?" I ask.
"What, in our game characters?"
"Mhm." I look down at myself, feeling that weird feeling in my chest and stomach again.
"Don't want to be female anymore?" They ask with a wink.
"That's not it, this is all just so weird, do you think anyone else is like us?"
"Most likely, it wouldn't surprise me if Reggie was on the way."
"Reggie?"
"Right, you don't know them by their real name, their in-game is Rollo."
"Oh, the ranger."
"Yep, they will probably be here within the next couple of hours."
"How did you come to know their real name?"
"We actually started playing together from the get go. He was the nerd in class, and seemed really interested in the game. I asked a few question about it since it sounded kinda cool, and he suggested we start together." He... Leo... shit I might as well ask.
"By the way... how do you want me to address you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Like, male, female, just by your name?"
"Oh, was that something you were worried about?"
"Not worried about it the whole time, just figured it was polite to ask."
"You don't act how I expected." They let out a chuckle. How were they expecting me to act? "Just my name is fine, and while we are here you might as well just refer to me as male, it would be a little weird for others to hear you call me 'she'." They bust into laughter.
"I guess, yeah." I chuckle. "What did you mean by 'don't act like how you expected'?"
"Oh, well..." They scratch their cheek. "First of all, you seemed so distant when you were playing, so I thought I wouldn't even see you if you were here too. Second, I really thought you were a girl, up until you told me otherwise."
"Is that really all?" I tilt my head.
"Um, well that, and I thought you were going to be a dick... Sorry."
"What gave that impression?!" I lean forward, kind of surprised by how loud I just was. "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to yell like that."
They put their hands up. "It's fine, well um... Can't say I wasn't affected by the rumors too... There was one going around that the reason why you didn't join in raids or party's often was because you hate people..."
"I can't really say that rumor is wrong... I don't know where is started though."
"Wait, for real?"
"Yeah, I'm an introvert who just doesn't care to interact with other people." I shrug.
"You seem to be talking to me just fine though."
"Well... I kind of get that way with people I have talked to a little before... Plus, for some reason, I don't really feel like myself right now... or... other people don't really feel the same way to me?"
"Is it because of the gender?"
"No clue... I don't think so, so I am confused as to what is causing it."
"Maybe the race?"
"Maybe..." That might be it actually...
"If it is, it might be that you don't see them as 'people' necessarily, most introverts I have talked to love animals."
"So you are saying, I am viewing people as animals now?" I deadpan.
"Not far off, maybe just as 'not like you'."
"What do you mean by that?!"
"Because you are significantly different, in both body, and capabilities, maybe you don't see others as equals?"
I just stare at him, I can't help but question what that implies. Am I racist now or something? It's not like I see other people in a different way though, I don't see another person and just think 'Disgusting' or something like that... I am still treating other people the same... I think... I hope...
"I can tell what you are thinking by your face..." Leo says, startling me. "No, I don't think you are being racist now."
"Am I really that easy to read..?"
"I have always been good at it, don't think too hard on it."
"But still, if I don't see them as equal, then that's just being racist right?"
"I don't think you are seeing them as below you or anything. I just think you kind of see them like how you see the wolves at your feet."
I look down to them, "What, like they are cute or something?!"
"Maybe something along those lines, yes." I can't help but just stare, it just sounds absurd to think like that.
He sighs, "Just in the same way that pet owners think of their pets as family... Jesus, you really need to not think so hard on it."
"How am I not supposed to think hard on it?!"
"It's not that big of a deal, just think, I'm a half-elf, I don't really see you as 'my kind' either, but I don't feel any hatred or anything towards you, and by how you are acting with me, I assume you don't have any hatred towards me, right?"
"I have hatred of you for a different reason..."
"Huh!? What did I do?!"
"You don't remember the time you basically begged me to join your party, only for me to be berated by the other party members?!" My mouth drops open.
"Oh... right... I already apologized but I will apologize again, I'm really sorry about that!" He puts his head down.
"Then you can fully repent by letting me get that punch in I promised you."
"Um, no..."
"Awww! Come here... It'll only hurt a little." I sing.
"Don't ever say something like that again."
"Huh?"
He stares at me, expecting me to realize something I guess, but I don't see what was wrong with what I said...
"It sounded way too sexy..." He lets out a long sigh, slumping over.
"What!?"
"Mhm, the tone, voice, and words fit in a porno."
"God fucking damnit..." I feel my face heat up.
"Jesus, you really aren't like how I expected."
"And you are exactly like how I expected."
We sit for a second, before he turns to me. "Are you hungry?"
"Uh, I guess, I haven't had anything to eat since I woke up." I should have picked up some of that food from the crashed carriage.
"I'll get the attendants to make us something." He gets up and walks out, leaving me with my wolves who are happily snoozing at my feet. I look back over to my tail, moving the end of it slightly.
Is my race really affecting how I think?.. I don't like that... It also leads me to think it can affect my actions, and I really don't want it too. There is not much I can do except pay attention to what I do.
I reach over to my tail, brushing it slowly. It doesn't feel as weird as it did before, but is still awkward as it is a new part of me. I tap one of the blades along it, causing me to shiver again. Vibrations going through my tail making me pull my hand back quickly. I stare at it, unable to bring myself to try and touch my tail again while I hold my hands together.
"Uh, you alright?" I yelp as Leo startles me, my voice going a higher pitch than I have ever had before. Even causing the wolves to jump.
"waha wah what?!"
"You okay?" He gets closer to me, causing me to panic even more.
"y-y-yeah!"
"You weren't touching yourself, were you?"
"Um... yes..." His eyes go wide, "I hit one of the blades on my tail while I was trying to get used to touching it, and the vibrations made me feel weird..."
"Oh my fucking GOD you need to get better at your wording."
"Wait what?"
"..."
"..."
He huffs, "The attendants will bring some food up in a minute." He sits down, crossing his arms.
What did I do...
"Anyway, since you asked me earlier, I might as well ask you. How do you want me to address you?"
"Uh, I guess just how you always did."
"So Camaella, and female?"
"That's fine." I shrug. Not like I care.
"Alright."
A few minutes later and the attendants bring up a big platter of different meats and veggies with what looks like some tortillas. After a few minutes of eating, I get nauseous and decide it's probably best for me to stop before I throw up.
"Are you feeling okay?" He asks me.
"Just a little nauseous, it's not that big of a deal." I let out a yawn, I guess I didn't realize I was getting tired.
"If you want to sleep you can use the couch, I don't have any plans for today except a little bit of paperwork I have to do."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, do you have anywhere to go?"
"No..."
"Then just sleep here. You would probably overpay at an inn anyway."
"I figured that out on the ride here..." I say as I lean over, the armor becoming uncomfortable as I lay down.
"Ah, so you probably made the same mistake I did. I figured out pretty quick that the currency value is different..." He stares at me as I try to find a comfortable position. "Not going to change out of the armor?"
"Oh, I probably should..." Am I really that tired? Why didn't I think of that? I sit up and slide over to the edge of the couch, standing up and leaning against a table close by. I open my inventory, tapping on a few menus to open my armor tab, de-equipping my armor.
"Really Camaella?"
"What?" I turn to him. He is looking directly at my face.
"You couldn't have just equipped something else, you had to take off the armor first?"
I look down, finding myself standing completely naked. Oh... My face heats up quickly as I partially try to cover myself, I start to wobble as I lose my support on the table and fall on my tail again, letting out a groan. Leo hops up and walks over to me.
The door suddenly bursts open, a short man, maybe 4'10(~1.47m), walks in.
"LEOOOoooooo..." He stares at us, he is directly in front of me, and I just realized he can see my whole chest. Luckily my legs are together and to the side. I quickly cover myself up as my face heats up even more, feeling the most embarrassed I have ever felt in my life. Leo rushes over and grabs him, closing the door while he spins him around in a choke hold. I quickly find some more casual clothes in my list, a pair of sweatpants and a loose shirt, equipping them.
Leo glances back, letting out a sigh as I shrink back, wanting to hide.