61_Bella's choice

A few hours later, the party was once again reunited. Staple had finally recovered from the energy drain and was currently enduring the endless doting of Topo, who refused to leave her side and was on constant alert for potential threats or food carts in order to bring her more food/energy.

"Topo, I told you I am fine. Stop mother-henning me. We have to figure out how to carry all the supplies to the valley. There is no time for, for... are those strawberry pastries?" The bot inquired, reluctantly accepting the treat and taking a big bite.

Topo said nothing, just nodded with satisfaction and wandered off to yet another food cart, though being careful to remain in sight of his wife at all times.

"Hmm, maybe we can hire a mule to help us carry everything," Herman mused.

"We will need an army of mules if we want to bring everything," Staple replied, just as equally baffled as to how they were going to transport the supplies for the trip.

"What is all this stuff anyway?" Slippy absentmindedly asked, absorbed in playing his Ramagochi.

"Those are the most expensive and exotic foodstuffs and spices from the post-apocalypse. Plus tools and supplies to build my new inn."

"New inn? I didn't know you and Topo were going to do that. Have you settled on a location?" Herman asked.

"Don't worry, Herman, we still intend to help you out in finding Genady. As to the location... We hoped that you wouldn't mind sharing the valley with us. I know it is a big ask, and you had planned everything about your hut in advance, but we thought we'd ask."

"Plus you would need some place to celebrate your family reunion."

"Pff, you don't need my permission. The valley is a big place, and I don't own it or anything. Plus, I would be happy to have you as neighbors. From a minimum of 1 kilometer away, that is! I value my privacy very much," Herman added without remorse. He might have gotten much better at socializing with people, but he was still a hermit at heart, and he needed a quiet place to recharge his batteries, just like his mechanical friends.

"That is fine. Let's make it 2 km for good measure. I intend for this inn to be more of a quiet café or a homely restaurant than anything else, but better to be safe than sorry."

"Sure, that sounds fine."

"So the plan is, we go there, you and Topo build the restaurant, I build my hut. Radek and Judiper come for a visit, and then we go adventuring together to find Genady."

"Indeed," Staple said, nodding in agreement.

"W-what about me? Where will I live? Do I have to build my own burrow 2 km away from your hut?" Slippy nervously asked, pocketing the Tamagotchi away and looking at Herman with puppy dog eyes.

Hmm... We still need to find your mom and tell her you are ok. In the meantime, you can stay with me in my hut.

"And after we tell her?" the slip nervously added.

"And after, if your mom doesn't kill us all, she will have to decide what to do with you. If I have to guess...

You know her best, but it is very probable that we won't see each other again after that," Herman said, hesitating and softening his voice.

"Slippy, you are still a baby, and the world is a dangerous place. Plus, as you have seen, none of us has much of an idea how to care for someone as young and special as you. Perhaps it would be better for you to stay with your own kind," Herman said, the words breaking his heart, but they needed to be said. He didn't want to raise his friend's hopes only for them to be crushed later.

"But I don't want to go back to the nursery. It is boring there. They force us to socialize and do those stupid community team exercises."

"And I hate the food they give us. Green beans for breakfast, green beans for lunch, green beans for breakfast! I don't care how energy-dense those beans are. If I have to eat yet another bowl of GREEN BEANS, I swear I will burn the entire place to the ground!" Slippy said with zeal, making his opinions about the nursery crystal clear.

Herman opened his mouth to contradict his young friend. Socializing was important in order to develop potential long-lasting friendships and connections for the future. And green beans, while lacking in taste, more than compensated in abundance of nutrients.

And yet... during his time in the "Happy Unicorn Retirement Home" back on Earth, he hated those mandatory social exercises. It all seemed so forced and fake. He much preferred to pick and choose the people he socialized with, rather than be commanded to interact with others under threat.

And those green beans... He fucking hated those! He just KNEW the retirement-home chef derived some perverse pleasure in inventing new and bizarre recipes to torture his victims. Each new combination and way of preparation made the beans taste even worse than before.

Cursed green beans! One huge benefit of dying was that he never again had to eat another bowl of green beans...

"You know what, Slippy, I understand you completely! When we finally find your mother, I will talk with her if it is okay for you to stay with us. Between me, Staple, Topo, and Polya, I think we can manage taking care of you at least part-time."

"Really ??? Thank you, thank you, thank you!" the slip exclaimed, eyes shining.

"Don't get your hopes up too much though. Leaving your kid even for a little bit with strangers is not something a parent would do easily. Maybe we can act as your daycare or something," Herman said, getting contemplative by the end as he started thinking of ways to convince the mighty creator of the virtual realm without sounding like a creep."

___

The dragon. The most boring of all the fantasy creatures.

Some critters like the kangaroos have pouches and are experts in boxing.

Others such as platypuses have features of both mammals and birds and are renowned for their detective skills.

Even the noble hen has more things going for it. Its combat prowess was undeniable, especially when it was forced to defend its young.

And somewhere at the bottom of the coolness chart, right below goblins and lice, stood the oversized geckos called dragons.

During Earth's long history, the dragon used to be regarded with much higher stature. Its coolness factor being over 9000. However, in recent centuries, the image of dragons has been used for literally anything and everything. From movies and TV shows to mascots for toilet paper. Every fantasy book or movie had the token dragon slapped on its cover. Nobody seemed to know why they were there. They just were. However, all things come to an end, and so has the image of dragons suffered a severe downfall. After a critical point of dragon advertising was reached, the market was so oversaturated by them that the mere idea of dragons started to be associated with genericity and a lack of imagination.

After the pact between Fencetown and the dragon clan of Generica, the mechanoids were somewhat intrigued to see real, living, breathing dragons. That novelty, however, passed quite quickly.

In the here and now, dragons are considered just an afterthought. Fencetown is infested by the fantasy lizards, big and small. They are just a part of daily life that nobody pays much attention to anymore.

"This program's purpose, however, is to show YOU, the viewer, that dragons are in fact deeply misunderstood creatures. They are mighty beasts of legend that can fly, breathe fire, and never die from old age. What is there not to like?"

The mechanoid TV presenter said with a forced cheerfulness, the man trying really hard not to yawn and fall asleep while talking about the oversized geckos.

"Before we proceed with this 4-hour presentation of dragon kind, we are obliged to note that today's video has been sponsored by the dragon clan." The camera panned to the left, where a pile of golden coins accompanied by precious gems and jewelry stood in the middle of the TV studio floor.

"Now that this is out of the way, prepare to be amazed, for we are going to show you that dragons are in fact..."

Click. The remote resounded as the food cart owner changed the channel to something less boring.

UP NEXT: Bella's Choice, episode 4334232423.

A tantalizing melody spilled from the ancient television speakers, promising intrigue, betrayal, and passion.

"Now that is proper entertainment," Herman said, seated at the Asian-style food stall, settling in to finally discover what had unfolded in his favorite soap opera after his death.

___

"Hmm, what about this one?" Topo said, motioning for Staple and Slippy to come over.

"I don't know, Topo, I don't like the look in that mule's eyes," Staple said, eyeing the mule in deep suspicion.

"What's wrong with it?" Slippy said as he hopped atop the wooden fence, his tiny stickman feet dangling in the air as he struggled to lift himself up.

"There is something very wrong with this mule. Its eyes hint of a dark, cold past filled with death and despair," Staple dramatically declared.

"Staple, it's a mule for God's sake. It doesn't have a secret identity or a hidden bloodline. Sometimes a mule is just a mule," Topo said, trying to reason with his paranoid wife.

"Uuu, he is so soft! Aargh!" Slippy cried out as the mule turned its head 180 degrees like an owl, bit Slippy, and threw him off its back.

"Gah!" Topo shouted as the slip crashed into him, toppling the bot down.

"Khhhhss!" The mule hissed threateningly, exposing its forked, elongated tongue while its eyes flashed with bright purple light.

"╰((◣︵ ◢))╯Xzal garith grozul!!!╰((◣︵ ◢))╯"

The mule boomed, the eldritch purple aura spreading to its entire body, making it hover above the ground.

___

"Oh, Ricardo, I don't know what to say."

"Man, she should just accept his proposition, she has nothing to lose at this point," the curly-red-haired man said.

"Ah, but you forget, back in episode 3192398 she and Saeed had an affair. After he died during the incident at the family factory, Saeed altered his will, and all the inheritance went to Bella. If she marries Ricardo now, she risks all her fortune getting into Ricardo's hands."

"Yeah, but Ricardo doesn't know that. He just loves her, man. He is not the scheming type," the red-haired customer sitting next to Herman responded.

"It would appear so, wouldn't it?..." Herman said with a knowing smile.

"Back in episode 3292398, Ricardo received a mysterious letter. Before it, he didn't seem all that interested in Bella. I bet the letter said EXACTLY how much of a catch Bella was."

"Wow, I completely forgot about that, you are right. Man, you really are an ancient fossil, aren't you? I bet you were alive and watching the show since episode 1. Talk about a hardcore simp," Patric said with his characteristic, annoying voice, his sharp tongue unable to restrain himself from the verbal jab.

Herman just smiled and waved the comment off. The general mojo of Patrick seemed to pass right through the old man without any adverse effects. If anything, Herman was surprised to find his companion quite pleasant. You always knew precisely what was on his mind. He never held anything back. It felt relieving not having to worry what other people thought, since if Patrick disliked something about you, he wouldn't hesitate to tell it to your face.

"Oh Ricardo, a marriage proposal, I am so flattered."

"I am the one who is flattered to be in your presence. Just the mere thought of you and me together makes my heart race with excitement."

"So what say you, Bella, my love, will you marry me?"

"Oh Ricardo, I... I..."

"Zzzzap!"

"Noooo!!!" Both Herman and Patrick cried out in outrage as the ancient TV chose that moment to give up on life, fizzling off and denying the two fans their fix.