The Slayers Quest

[Corwin]

Lina gets distracted by Gourry picking up the depiction of Flagoon, and thus she completely misses Zel's reaction. Stalking over to Gourry, Lina says casually, "Nice picture of Flagoon you've got there."

[Ebiris]

Gourry smiles gormlessly at Lina. "Yeah, I think it'll make a nice present to give to Sylphiel next time we see her."

[Corwin]

"You can't do that!" Lina protests. "What if it's valuable? Flagoon's gone now, so pictures of it should pitch more on the market!"

[Ebiris]

"But Lina, we don't really need the money. And if it's valuable, it makes a nicer present," Gourry replies.

[Corwin]

"Then it's even worse!" Lina yells. "You shouldn't give expensive gifts to strange girls!"

[Ebiris]

Gourry frowns. "I know Sylphiel might seem a little bit strange at times, but I've known her for a long time, and she used to cook such great food..." Gourry trails off in rememberance, a bit of drool collecting at the side of his mouth before he collects himself. "Anyway, I think she deserves a nice present." He nods to himself, seemingly satisfied with that explanation.

[thepanda]

"But Ms Sylphiel isn't strange," Amelia says, coming up behind them.

[Ebiris]

Gourry turns to Amelia. "You might think that, Amelia, but you don't know her like I do. Sometimes when she'd get out some of her toys she could be very strange," he says in a serious tone.

Yep, he could just remember the time Sylphiel had that set of toy dragons and soldiers, but instead of playing out a proper battle, she pretended they were all living peacefully and the dragons would give people rides... that was very strange, he thought. And the way she always insisted the blonde haired male doll was married to that black haired female one... she was always so insistent about that fact. Very strange indeed.

[Corwin]

"You... played with her toys?" Lina asks slowly, her face turning redder with each word, as her imagination goes wild.

[Ebiris]

"Well, I didn't really have a choice," Gourry protests, "she insisted. I didn't really enjoy it, since she wouldn't let me play the way I wanted to. She always forced me to do it in her way... it made me uncomfortable, but how could I refuse?"

[thepanda]

Amelia wisely decides to withdraw. Lina was wearing one of her looks.

"What do you mean, Mr Gourry?"

[Corwin]

"That evil, wicked girl!" Lina exclaims, posing on the mountain of treasure. "I knew she wasn't right in the head since she was always after Jellyfish Brains, but I had no idea--" She lowers her head, shaking it sadly, before raising it to stare at the ceiling dramatically, tears flowing down her cheeks. "The beautiful female sorcery genius, Lina Inverse, will avenge the great injustice done to you, Gourry! Mark my words, Sylphiel... you'll get what's coming for you!"

[Ebiris]

Gourry starts to blush. Talking about how he had played with a girl's dolls was really embarrassing!

"Look, I don't want to talk about it. Maybe I did enjoy it a little, but it's still not something I'm proud of," he says defensively.

Then again, considering how often these girls forced him to cross-dress, playing with Sylphiel's dolls wasn't really that big a deal...

"Lina, you don't need to get so worked up, it's hardly worse than some of the things you've forced me to do!"

[Corwin]

"Lies!" Lina cries out, looking around wildly. "I have never had any relations of that kind with Gourry! Ever!"

[thepanda]

"Ms Lina, I never knew!" Amelia crys.

"Then again, Ms Lina and Mr. Gourry have been traveling together for a while now. And alone, at that." Amelia averts her eyes and blushes, poking her index fingers together.