(Vol 2) Chapter 32: A Long-Awaited Gathering

When the new realm was created, Sammy refused to actually step foot in it immediately — instead, she touched up on its details from afar, mostly to adjust what was available in the bakery for added variety. Someone or another was not going to want a donut or pastry, so it needed some savory options to round it out.

She added some little conditional things that would give everyone the right attire. She didn’t intend to dress them, instead instructing the System to interpret their ‘style’ somehow into a modern equivalent they’d probably be happy and comfortable with, while also being casual or at least semi-casual.

Sammy checked on everyone to make sure they were free, which they were. The ship was nearing Geirkos, so it was perhaps the last time she’d really be taking advantage of the relative downtime her core Followers had there, though they had been helping with ship duties with the crew being so reduced. Meanwhile, Carlisle’s group was fine, if some of them were hungover. Merril, unsurprisingly, had to be woken up.

Once Azure was back in the room, looking refreshed and probably smelling divine, Sammy addressed her First Ten with a mental group message. “Friends, compatriots, believers, I am calling on you all for a special gathering this morning in a realm of my devising… For everyone to meet me, for everyone to meet each other. Casually. Celebration and sharing. Fellowship, as is prescribed, but also supremely desired.”

She sent the feeling of a big smile to their minds. “Galynth, Canmore, you’ll need to be sitting down and touching the Staff of Vision. Dax, Merril, Carlisle, you’ll need to be sitting and touching one of the masks. Please, everyone, make this and such arrangements as to be sequestered in reasonable comfort and meditation, as your body will be in a trance-like state while I bring your perceptions to me. Note: there will be goodies.”

There were varying levels of excitement for the meeting, but at minimum, there was some curiosity about ‘goodies.’ Estara was of course ecstatic and ready to go immediately.

Sammy hopped into the realm, the entry point set to the street outside the colorful bakery with the big heart sign above it. It was admittedly quite girly, so the boys would just have to deal with it. She was sure the food would make up for it.

The hustle and bustle of a daytime summer street in the city. A sunny day but cloudy, the temperature moderate — perfect. Some vehicles passing by, and relative throngs of people going to and fro. Workers, performers, business folk, tourists, all with somewhere to be. Of course, they weren’t people for real, but it was quite believable.

She made a full-body mirror appear inset into a brick building facing next to her. She went with a ripped jeans, platform sandals, frilly white blouse with shoulders showing kind of look, with bits of jewelry. A sapphire tiara of course. She added a small wicker-style handbag — just didn’t feel right without one.

As the others prepared, she went ahead and mentally grabbed the already-waiting Estara, inviting her eagerly — almost as excited as the young priestess herself.

Estara popped in, at first bewildered by the environment, gasping loudly — it transformed to gleeful wonder in a snap. She was in a full summer dress, white with big pink flower imprints, and was wearing a stylish pink-and-white brimmed hat with an elaborate flowery bow wrap.

The priestess didn’t notice any of this, though, because her eyes locked on her goddess, and she squealed in delight as she practically glomped her in a hug. Sammy was no less noisy in high-pitched cheer as they embraced. Soon the taller goddess was lifting the other girl off the ground.

Sammy half spun Estara around before setting her down, parting from the hug to meet her dear believer and friend eye to eye, with both of them beaming in their absolutely skyrocketed joy.

Cupping Estara’s face in both hands, she shook them slightly and exclaimed, “Look at you! You’re so stinkin’ cute!”

The priestess’s smile turned into mere bashful dimples as her eyes shifted aside. “Your Maj-es-ty…”

“Oh, don’t believe me, huh?!” She grabbed Estara’s shoulders and turned her around to the mirror, gesturing with a hand at it as they were both looking at their reflection. “See?!”

Estara’s mouth fell open in a loud gasp as she saw what she was wearing for the first time. “The dress!” She grabbed the skirts and flipped them. “The hat!” She touched it, adjusting it in the mirror.

“Uh huh, uh huh?!”

And then Estara lifted a foot up so she could- See. The. Shoes. Sandals, actually, with impeccable white strapping and little bows on the side. Estara needed a hand on Sammy’s shoulder as another hand went to her mouth and she gasped again. “They’re… they’re beautiful!”

Grinning ear-to-ear, Sammy nodded to Estara with a smug ‘oh yeah’ through eye contact in the mirror. “Totally beautiful! Mega cute!”

Tashome soon was popping in, wearing a Hawaiian shirt, khaki shorts, and sandals. He immediately noticed his shirt and had an appreciative expression. “This feels so me.”

Soon Sammy was giving him a hug in greeting, then Estara.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you!” Estara exclaimed. “And can you believe how tall Her Majesty is?! I feel so tiny!”

Tashome smirked. “Tell me about it. Not particularly fair, really.”

Bast was next, wearing a technically simple but fashionable white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, tucked into khaki pants. Shiny leather ‘casual’ dress shoes going to points, stylish shades.

As he was looking down at himself, Sammy smirked and pointed to the mirror, moving out of the way.

Estara gasped once more. “Oh, it’s so sharp!”

Hand coming up to rub his chin, turning his head side-to-side, nodding, Bast finally smiled. “Agreed. I rather like it. Estara, is it? Truly an honor, Priestess.”

Hugs were soon exchanged. Bast lingered in hugging Samantha, and she could hardly take issue if he was a bit more needy after the ordeal with his mother. Of course that was why!

The group of Orswyth, Galynth, and Canmore appeared next, at the same time. Orswyth appeared in a light blue polo shirt, with shorts and sneakers, the shirt a tight fit showing off his muscular physique. Galynth had a nerdy look with glasses, a vest over a shirt with a tie, and light-colored jeans. Canmore was in the most basic-ass t-shirt and jean shorts.

Orswyth laughed with a big grin at his appearance in the mirror. “Let me guess: this is what dads wear in your world?”

“Uh, well maybe a jock dad,” Samantha answered while laughing at the same time.

“Is everyone going to be tall?” Poor Estara, lamenting her supreme shortness.

Tashome patted Orswyth on the shoulder, glancing at the others. “This man, I tell you, he never gives up exercise. He’s bloody exhausting himself on the ship, doing it even with that ailment.”

Orswyth scoffed. “Bah — it’s nothing! I’ll be damned if I let some curse turn me into a shriveled bunch of twigs. At least I can come here and enjoy my old strength!” With that, he picked up Tashome and began ‘benching’ him up above his head.

Initially shocked, Tashome just shrugged and put his hands behind his head, crossed his legs, and enjoyed it for what it was. “You know, it’s a great view up here.”

As the greetings continued (Galynth on cloud nine getting a hug from his goddess idol, Orswyth doting on the adorable Estara, the others together marveling at the bustling city around them), Azure appeared, wearing a belted yellow short dress and strappy heels — stylish and gorgeous as always. Her hair was down and falling to one side and she had on sunglasses. Best of all, there was no mark on her forehead, not in that realm.

Azure had nothing but new people to meet, so Sammy just grinned and watched her pivot around in bubbly glee as the others received a new queen into their lives with some measure of awe. The Naugite first beelined to Estara of course, both of them making excited noises and murmuring copious heaps of compliments.

Bast of course went for a hug. Grinning as he released her, he declared loudly, “I’m in disbelief this hour! Not one, but three of the finest women to grace existence are among us, gents. Our goddess is adding to the pantheon already!”

The flattery was met with agreement by the rest. Estara was bashful to the praise, while Azure smirked wanly at the source. Sammy for her part was one of the agreers, and reasonably impressed that Bast wasn’t leering too much.

Dax, Merril, and Carlisle finally loaded in. Dax appeared in a blue-and-white plaid long-sleeve, jeans, boots, and a stylish cowboy hat with a colorful strap and feather sticking up. Merril was in a patterned button-up with the top unbuttoned and a necklace showing, and strategically-torn dark jeans. Converse-style shoes, and had those circular shades that sat at the end of the nose. He was like some cool, casual rockstar, basically.

Carlisle was in a simple salmon pink button-up, tucked in, and white khaki pants.

Dax was all smiles as she greeted everyone — hugs had become the social standard, and she adapted quickly and happily to this. Carlisle instead kept it all to polite handshakes and nods. Sammy didn’t let him, though — she dodged the hand and gave him a hug, which did get a little smile out of him.

Merril cooly hovered over to the periphery with that ‘Nah, I’m good’ aura. He did gravitate to the mirror to see himself, mouth twisting thoughtfully. Surreptitiously posing, while pretending not to.

Ha! He fucking likes it, even if he won’t say so.

Sammy walked over to smile at him through the mirror. “Thanks for agreeing to come, Merril.”

He nodded, pulling off his newly discovered hands-in-pocket stance. “Sure. New experiences elucidate the mind, create new angles — which, naturally, the Goddess of Mirrors provides. Besides… I can’t even feel my hangover here.”

Sammy laughed. “I’m glad to provide additional pluses.”

As Bast came over to introduce himself to the feline, Dax strode up to her goddess, grinning and slowly holding her arms out. Sammy gladly gave her a big hug. One a long time in coming, and a bit restorative after the rocky events in the cave.

While embraced, Dax whispered in her ear with the heavy weight of glorious gossip. “Merril had three separate women invite him for ‘private’ demonstrations of his ‘talents’!”

Gasping, Sammy broke from the hug to stare into the smirking woman’s eyes. “No! Get out!” Then she lowered her voice. “What happened?”

Dax snickered then shrugged. “He got too piss drunk for it to matter. He was vague in his answers, anyway.” Briefly, she cast her eyes around to make sure no one was close. “I think he’s sweet on a certain cute priestess if you ask me.”

“Oh, I know. Trust me.”

“And what do you think?”

Sammy smiled patiently. “I think it’s their business, Dax.”

“Mmn. True, true. But if you give-”

Orswyth came up, putting his hands on their shoulders and nodding with a grin. “Shall we? I believe we’re gathered, and the other dames are eying that feminine-looking heart place with growing curiosity.”

“Of course, Orswyth,” Sammy replied, checking out the ‘growing curiosity’ with her own eyes. Which caused her to grunt. “Hmm, looks to me like more than the dress-wearing bunch is interested.”

“You caught us red-handed, Your Majesty. Don’t tell anyone.” He winked.

“I’d say my lips are sealed but they’re about to be wide open stuffing delicious pastries.”

The group proceeded down the sidewalk and across the street, fascinated and a bit hesitant about walking in front of vehicles. A few commented on a vague familiarity. Bast said it was a whole new vividness to see them in three dimensions instead of artists' renditions.

They made their way into the bakery, pleasant murmurs resounding from the wonderful smells that hit them. Sammy ushered them over to the display, where gorgeous sweets were legion — donuts, pies, stuffed croissants, turnovers, scones, muffins. Exclamations were just as legion about how good it all looked.

Estara, Azure, Canmore, and — amusingly — Carlisle were the most enthusiastic about it all, but everyone was impressed and curious. Sammy could only grin in pleasure. It had already been one of the highlights of all her time in her new world, to meet them all, to see them meet each other. To see the joy.

They’d get to enjoy it just a little while longer, with one of the things their goddess most loved in her old world: sweets!

____________________________________________________________

« (Vol 2) Chapter 31 | Table of Contents | (Vol 2) Chapter 33: Drumroll Please... »

____________________________________________________________

Note: Next chappy will have a quick summary of eating, not a long play-by-play lol. Eventually they'll get to some Surrious Convo about future plans in Geirkos and such.