fandomhigh | Adventuring!

Once again, class would be held in the Danger Shop. Because there was a Danger Shop and no self-respecting hacker nerd like Hardison would be able to forgive themself for holding a class anywhere but the Danger Shop if that was a possibility. Today, however, when the class opened the door into the Danger Shop, they'd find themselves in a tavern called The Thief and Hitter, a name that made him smile every time he looked at it. Anyone familiar with epic fantasy movies or video games would feel right at home, with the scarred wooden tables, the roaring fire with a pig roasting on a spit, and a thickly-muscled barkeep standing behind a long wooden counter while several pretty ladies (and a few pretty lads, too, Hardison was equal-opportunity) waited tables, bringing over battered metal tankards filled with brown ale and heaping plates of mutton and bowls of stew. If the barkeep looked like the manager of a local diner on one of his surlier days and if one of the blonde serving girls was helping herself to money pouches, well, surely those were coincidental.

There was one empty table remaining that had just the right number of seats for the number of students in class. How fortuitous!

Hardison waited until everyone had taken a seat before speaking up. "Ahh, the tavern," he said, drawing their attention to one of the tall, wingback chairs in front of the fire. He peeked around the side and gave the class a smile. "Traditional starting place of many an adventure. Whether you're a seasoned adventurin' party or ain't even a group yet, the tavern's a great place to get somethin' to eat, swap stories, an' keep an ear out for opportunities for gainful employment. Funny, most of said 'gainful employment' usually involves goin' out into the wilderness somewhere an' riskin' life an' limb to steal stuff from the local green-skinned population, but hey. Them enchanted weapons won't pay for themselves."

Standing up, he moved to join the class at the table, snagging a stool on the way. "So, welcome to Adventurin'! Yes, the exclamation point is part of the class title. If you were hopin' for a class that involved runnin' around in the woods an' jumpin' offa high stuff, that's Outdoor Adventures, run by my crew, Eliot an' Parker. Sorry for the confusion, but they probably got room for you if you wanna sign up late or whatever. This class ain't about hikin' an' explorin' the great outdoors. It's about discoverin' the five great adventure game archetypes an' figurin' out which one suits you best, occasionally while usin' your various skills to get past obstacles." And they wouldn't all be various fights, though Hardison wasn't going to share that just yet.

"But today is for introductions. Now, about half'a you know me--an' welcome back--but for those of you who don't, my name is Hardison. Don't worry about callin' me Mr. or Professor or none of that, just Hardison'll do. This is Raven," he added, gesturing to her seat at the table. "She's my TA for the semester. Now, from alla you, what I'd like is your name an' grade, why you signed up for this class, an' how much experience you have with epic fantasy media, of any variety. Books, movies, video games, RPGs, whatever, you name it. If you can, feel free to tell me your favorite character class an' why. If you ain't sure what I mean about classes, just tell me your favorite character from any media an' what it is you like about 'em--specifically, what they do that's so cool. That make sense?"

Just as the last of the introductions and explanations were over, a stout, well-armored dwarf woman reached down to her belt for her money pouch, only to discover it missing. "Thief!" she shouted, pointed to the man next to her, and took a swing. Within seconds the entire tavern was engulfed in a brawl. The only spot of relative calm was around the table of students. "Uh-oh," Hardison said, though he was grinning. "Looks like there's a big fight between y'all and the exit. Looks like you need to find a way to get outta here, whether you wanna fight your way out, sneak out, or find another way. Good luck!"

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"That's why he needs his favorite person to help him out," Raven said. It was a trick Charles used sometimes on her when she was little, turning her into the hero that saved someone else from her fears, instead of the one cowering from them. "I bet if we're fast, we can dodge between these big guys and get to him before they even know we're there."

Alluka considered that thoughtfully.

"Even me?" she asked doubtfully. "I can't do anything."

She flinched at a particularly loud shout that ripped through the air.

"Not even running? I don't believe that." Raven winked at her, keeping her tone light even as the fight continued to roar around her. "I think you just need to try it out and see."

Alluka looked at Raven and then in the direction that Bubbles had gone and took a deep breath. It was sort of shaky, but she was going to ignore that.

"Okay," Alluka said, her voice small. "I'll try."

"And I'll be right here to help while you do. Now, let's go!" Raven hopped forward a few steps, tugging on Alluka's hand. "Bubbles is waiting!"

Alluka stumbled a little on her first step, somehow not have been expecting that they'd actually go and get him, but recovered her balance and kept moving.

"What, what if someone's stepped on him?" she asked anxiously, trusting in Raven to guide them to the right place while Alluka tried not to pay too much attention to the scary fight.

"Then we'll brush him off and check him over and fix him right back up good as new," Raven promised, idly punching a few kneecaps when some of the brawlers got too close. "Stuffed toys are really durable, and he'll be so happy to see you he won't be scared any more."

Sure. That made sense, right?

It made plenty of sense to Alluka, which was the important part.

She was still flinching every single time that Raven punched someone though. Even while it was keeping people away from them.

"I hope so," she said fretfully, cringing again. "Ah! He's over there!"

'There' was on the floor, half under a table that had been knocked over.

Wincing over the punching was better than getting trampled by brawlers. Raven did make a small attempt to be more subtle about it, though.

"Looks like he found a good hiding spot. Let's go get him and then we can find the door."

Alluka nodded, keeping her eyes on either Bubbles, or on the ground, now, since those seemed like the least scary places to look as they made their way closer.

"Is the door very far away?"

It was probably further away than she wanted it to be, but she asked anyway.

"A little," Raven admitted, looking over towards the door in question. "But that just means we'll need to be brave a little longer."

"I'll, I'll try," she said, though she didn't feel very brave at all, even as they reached the table that Bubbles was under.

Alluka let go of Raven's hand to scoop up her giraffe and hug him.

"I'm sorry," she said, to the toy. "I let you go."

"You didn't do it on purpose," Raven said, standing guard, fluffy bunny arms folded across her fluffy bunny chest. "I bet he understands."

Raven was the best guard. She really was. Fluffy bunny appearance and all.

Alluka snuggled Bubbles for a moment longer, then kissed his head, and looked at Raven.

"He wants to leave," she said simply.

So did she, but Bubbles was the one that had been tossed around and on the floor.

"Then let's get him out of here," Raven said, offering her hand again. "It'll be just like getting over here, only this time you have him with you."

"I'll protect you," she said to Bubbles, though neither she nor her toy really believed that.

Alluka was pretty aware that she was about as useful as a tissue in a fight.

She took Raven's hand again. "Okay," she said. "We're ready."

Adventuring!

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