Chapter Text
The morning after with a bad partner is always rough. I woke up, feeling sore and cold, no aftercare to speak of. Typical, what else should I have expected from that Bull guy? "Oh Willow he's just so big and strong, exactly your type! Just what you need to get over your ex"! Yeah sure, I'm always down to climb Mt. Himbo, but being left in the middle of the night like that? Not worth it.
Making my way to the bathroom, I gathered the clothes that scattered the ground. Pieces of my favorite top were ripped in the heat of the moment, which only added to the building frustration towards that bastard. To make matters worse, my panties were nowhere in sight. That jackass wasn't just a terrible partner, but a thief! So much for one-night stands... Groggily, I dressed myself and recounted the plan for my day to keep myself from falling back asleep. My usual routine was simple; clean up before work, prepare the shop and open, make casual conversation with my favorite customers as I work, clean up, close up shop, and then pick up some hunk to get tossed into bed with.
Once I finished getting ready, I started walked down the steps and into the shop, aptly named the "Cloudberry Cafe". We serve all kinds of customers like elves, gnomes, beast-folk, hellkin, and well paying eldritch monstrosities. Luckily the common-folks I serve don't put up much of a fuss with the more unusual patronage I serve, and if they do, the others will typically intervene. Being the only establishment open to all walks of life in the city is risky, but rewarding. It's been harder to manage everything since Bell left, but keeping the place afloat is all the fulfillment I need. Kinda...one night stands and sex-buddies are great, but I still miss having someone to wake up next to.
In the evenings when I close up shop, I start my second job. By day, I'm a local cafe owner, by night, I'm the city's witch. People order all sorts of potions, supplies, and adult items... What? Yes I make more than drinks and biscuits! No, it's not just sex-toys either! Yes, I do test out new products...it's fun hehe~ This night is a bit different however, as it appears I ran out of supplies for a customers growth potion. Don't look at me like that, I have strict don't-ask don't-tell agreement with my midnight customers. In situations like this, I find it more fun to go out and forage for my supply stock.
The city is always busy, full of magic and amusement, but the night life offers a nice cover. It's big on tourism, especially the lights district, but every corner of the city has its own charm. Sneaking out at night has as many risks as the daylight, with the added benefit of being harder to catch. Sneaking around the crowds of rowdy drunkards and partiers is usually easy...but luck is not on my side this night.
???: "oh lookie here! Bitch just can't get enough of this!"
"Hah. Hah. Sure, like anyone would want a second round with you?"
Of course it just had to be him. Standing guard at the city gate happened to also be that sleazy boar I mentioned previously. He held a tankard of ale, such a boring drink for a bring partner. My attempts to slip past were halted as he pinned me to the wall, the other guard simply standing and watching the scene unfold. His breath was just as unappealing as his words, making me shutter with each failed attempt to woo me.
Boar: "come on, what's the ruuush~ I was hoping you'd be into a round two~?"
"We both know that even if I asked you couldn't put out a second time, remember?"
Boar: "I- uh...well which one of us had the other screamin' all night long?"
"All night? Hah! You couldn't keep up so you dipped when you saw the opportunity."
Boar: "yeah cuz you needed a breather!"
"Right, was that before you decided to run off with my panties?"
Guard: "Pffft- Damn! Didn't know you were a pantie sniffer!"
Boar: "Why you little...can't believe I let a slut like you take me."
"Yet you still came running back for more~"
Boar: "Stupid Fag!"
The boar man swung back and would have hit me, but missed in his drunken stupor. His buddy must have realized he was still on duty, as he pulled the drunken boar back before he could go for another swing. I didn't need a warning to understand it was my time to leave, and so I raced off under the cover of night into the underbrush. My feet brought me deeper in the woods, far away from the slurred shouting back at the city exit. Looks like I'll have to find a different way to come and go.
The next hour was spent sneaking through the trees picking herbs, reagents, and abandoned monster parts. Along the usual routes, I filled my bag with the necessary supplies but left some room for any unique goodies that sometimes pop up. The possibility of a rare find came with the sound of rushing water, the perfect environment for a mushroom harvest. I was too distracted in my thoughts to notice a not-so distant howl, a warning for what's to come....