Note: The character Darrell is my personification of the player avatar in Exatron Quest. Since it can be male or female, Darrell is non-binary.
In the land of Exatron, in the Exatronia capital, in a bar, Hector has a beer. He doesn't intend to get drunk, but some sailors have bet 200 gold coins that Hector can't hold ten beers. Hector never turns down a bet so he drinks all ten beers. The rest of the evening is a blur in his mind. He wakes up with the sunrise in a room at the inn. The room has two beds. Hector is hungover and startled when he sees a naked woman in the other bed. He knows she’s naked because her clothes are lying on the floor. By the Exatron Goddess, did I fuck her last night? While I was drunk? Hector slowly gets out of bed. He is also naked. Fuck, NO! As he searches for his clothes and his armor’s pieces, a familiar voice speaks to him.
"Hector, are you awake?"
"Mercuria?" Hector asked, turning back to the source of the voice.
Yes. It was indeed Mercuria, the naked woman in the other bed.
"By the Exatron Goddess, what have I done?"
"Well, you got into a fight in the bar after getting drunk. The sailors wouldn't honor the bet and you got thrown out."
"How do you know that?"
"I got to the bar shortly after you arrived so I saw everything."
"Okay, then what?"
"I followed you so you wouldn't do anything foolish and you started hitting on me."
"No!"
"Yes. It was kind of cute. Then you wanted to have sex with me."
"And you agreed? I was drunk!"
"I know that. That's why I agreed. If I had refused, you would have either attacked me to assault me or targeted another woman. You can be really violent when you're drunk, Hector."
Hector closes his eyes and lowers his head. He's so ashamed of himself. Hector, the accomplished old warrior. Hector, one of King Ernest's former protectors. Hector the Brave. Hector the Exatron Hero, for he stopped the Demon King with Darrell, Mercuria and Rubis. However, he got drunk and pressured a fellow companion in arms into having sex with him. He wants to apologize to Mercuria, but he doesn't know where to start.
Mercuria, unhindered, gets out of bed and gets dressed. Hector covers his eyes not to see anything further.
"I'm done, you can open your eyes now."
"Mercuria, I..."
"I'll help you find your clothes and armor pieces."
Mercuria begins to search in the room. Hector imitates her in silence. After they have found everything, Hector covers his naked body with cloth and metal. Hector thanks Mercuria for her help.
"Well, I have to go. A man hired me as his bodyguard to go to Aquadia City. I wonder if he wants to visit Rubis?"
"Mercuria, I am..."
"Don't apologize. It doesn't change anything that happened and besides, we are the Exatron Heroes. Always united, no matter what."
"If you say so..."
Hector isn't very convinced. Nevertheless, he says goodbye to Mercuria. She leaves the inn. Hector does the same. He doesn't have to pay for the room because Mercuria took care of everything last night.
Hector is walking in the Exatronia capital. His hangover is still there. Suddenly, he hears a laugh and sees a sailor in the distance. Hector doesn't know if this sailor was with the ones in the bar last night, but he plans to talk to him.
"Hey, you! Were you at the bar last night?"
"Yep, so what?"
"You owe me 200 gold coins."
"I don't owe you anything, you fucking drunk!"
Hector takes his axe, which was hanging on his back, and he gets into a fighting stance.
"Then come and fight, you stupid asshole!"
"NO!"
The sailor takes flight and Hector runs after him. The man stops running when a person armed with a sword and a bow blocks his way.
"Darrell, I'm glad you're here! That fucker owes me 200 gold coins."
"But... but... then FUCK THIS SHIT!"
The sailor throws a bag of gold coins on the ground. Darrell lets him pass and he walks away. Hector puts his axe back on his back and takes the bag in his hands.
"It is heavy. It must be 200 gold pieces and more. Darrell, would you like some?"
Darrell nods "no" and leaves, leaving Hector alone. Darrell has always been a person of few words. Hector, for his part, gives a little smile. In the end, he has them, his gold coins, but were they really worth it? Mercuria…