Track 5: Like A Virgin
General Summary
Shocked at the discovery of yet another of Maña's animated toys, Areial and Rilla hushedly scheme on how to get closer to Diego's secret. The girls announce their presence in the lockers as if they were just arriving to allow Diego time to hide the Danger Dorrah action figure. Feigning surprise at finding the famous Diego, Areia explains she just signed up as a gladiator and was hoping to spar with someone before going home.
Diego is visibly uncomfortable and stutter's, "These are the men's lockers..."
Areia and Rilla insist that there just wasn't anyone else around and how it would be exciting to spar with a popular gladiator. Areia flexes her skills and Rilla ups the ante with a wager, loser buys dinner. The girl's hear an obvious "Say. Yes." from behind Diego's back and he reluctantly accepts the offer. He tells the girls to meet him in the ring so he can get his gear together. Rilla motions to Areia to have her head upstairs while she hides to spy on Diego and the toy.
"No, this is good. Trust me," the toy assures Diego.
Diego puts the action figure in his gym bag before being followed out of the locker rooms by Rilla. In the arena, Diego and Areia exchange pleasantries as Diego provides a wooden greatsword to Areia. Perhaps it was the unfamiliar locale, or the new sword, but Diego wins the sparring match handedly. True to their word, Rilla offers to buy everyone dinner at Diego's favorite restaurant to which Diego excitedly escorts them to the Champion's Rest, a sports bar decorated with Colosseum based memorabilia and staffed by gladiator washouts.
Over dinner, Areia and Rilla try to get to know Diego, but it's apparent he is either uncomfortable or just terribly awkward. While they Areia is able to bond over shared experiences and people they know, Rilla slips away to the bar to ask about Diego. She learns Diego is a strait and narrow guy whom the restaurant encourages to visit.
During dinner the girls attempt to bring up the topic of animated toys, but Diego keeps his cool; though it is clear he is hiding something about his hobbies. Diego finishes his meal first and gives his thanks before leaving. Once he is out the door the girls rush to pay their tab and follow after him. Tracking him through the dusk lit streets, Areia and Rilla follow Diego into the city and away from his home.
Rilla overhears a one sided conversation of Diego speaking into his gym bag, "I don't think I'm comfortable with this... Yeah... I know it's what I asked for, but it's just... I don't know... If you say so."
To her horror, Rilla witnesses Diego enter The House of Ladiline, the one place she would most want to avoid. Ignorant to the situation, Areia prepares to enter the Love Goddess's temple after Diego as she is whereas Rilla begins to disguise herself lest anyone recognize her as her father's daughter.
Inside they find themselves amongst a party full of drinking and 'casual encounters'. Areia asks about the patrons that pair up in groups of sometimes three or four and Rilla, now disguised as her persona Kitty, comments that they're in a whorehouse. Overheard, a man approaches the ladies to correct the statement.
Chaucer introduces himself as the leader of the temple and attempts to inform Areia of the temple's nature and engages in casual conversation about the concept of love. Rilla spots Diego lingering against a wall clutching his gym bag and slips away from the conversation.
"Kitty" introduces herself in her best Roue D'ori accent, and convinces the timid gladiator to sit with her on a nearby couch. Rilla seductively questions about Diego's 'love languages' and if it's his first time at the temple. Diego is paralyzed by fear until she begins to massage his arm. Jumping up from the couch Diego exclaims, "Nope! I can't do this." He runs out of the temple, but leaves his bag behind with Rilla.
Rilla waste's no time in grabbing the bag and Areia to leave the temple themselves and run to her townhouse. In her home, the girls prepare to open the bag and confront Danger Dorrah directly. Areia grips the action figure through the bag as Rilla unzips it.
Danger Dorrah stars at Rilla, "You touched him, didn't you?"
"Yep."
"He ran away, didn't he?"
"Uh-huh."
The conversation is surprisingly casual as Dorrah explains that he expected this might happen; though not with these two. Rilla asks what was Dorrah doing leading Diego to the temple. Dorrah shares that Diego made a wish 'to be a man', or more specifically "to be more mature", to which Dorrah handily provided his guidance.
The girls sensing no malice from the toy let Dorrah loose to continue the conversation. Conscious of Maña's magic, Areia asks if Dorrah came from the puppet wish-maker. Dorrah affirms and regales the ladies with the story of how he woke up in Diego's room with the memories of Danger Dorrah, but also the idea that he was once someone else. All he knew for sure is that Diego asked for help and Dorrah could provide that.
Somewhat content with what they've learned, Areia and Rilla take Danger Dorrah back to Diego's home under one condition, "Read a parenting book."
Rewards Granted
Invitation to The House of Ladiline
Missions/Quests Completed
Follow Diego
Character(s) interacted with
Diego, "The Kid"
Champion's Rest staff
Chaucer, Liderra of the House of Ladliline
Champion's Rest staff
Chaucer, Liderra of the House of Ladliline
Comments
Author's Notes
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