A Growing Camp, Doing Business & Heading Out Solo

"You're sure?" Knives asked.

Roman nodded. "I am. Don't worry. I promise I'll come back. I gotta check-in on the group. You stay here and help Saya train a bit. Besides," he kissed her forehead. "You deserve some R&R. You're awesome but You've been working hard. Help Saya out a bit, defend the camp and relax a little... for me?"

Knives smiled and hugged him. "You're way too good to me! Best boyfriend ever! Er, oops I meant Master!"

Roman shrugged but returned the hug. "Hey I don't mind. I can be both!! And you deserve the best and I'm trying to live up to that. Okay?"

Knives nodded and gave him a kiss. "Yup! Okkie dokkie!" But it wasn't... she was still worried. Not about Roman as much as herself. Was she...

"Later," Saya simply said.

Roman chuckled softly. "What? No hug goodbye?" He teased.

She adjusted her glasses looking at his crotch. "I don't think so... not with that situation happening. Try not to die out there and work hard!" She threw over shoulder, walking away in her clingy shortshorts and suspenders that made her breasts push prominently against her T-shirt.

Roman blinked and sighed. Holding Knives in her swimsuit had gotten him hard. "Well damn."

Knives bit her lip. "I could... help you with that? So you keep a clear mind out there!"

Roman smiled and shook his head. "How about we just call it incentive to comeback home instead?" He whispered in her ear. "You rest up and put Saya to work good so when she passes out we can go all out ok?"

Knives blushed but nodded enthusiastically. "Sounds awesome! I'll be looking forward to it!"

"Great!" Roman said. "Me too!" He waved all the way to the beach before throwing his pack in his latest project. It had taken some time considering his tools were basic but he finally had finished one Dugout outrigger canoe and was working on another. He shoved off the beach wadding aways before jumping in and paddling.

He smiled. This made it all worthwhile. This was living. The sun, the surf, the work.

This was the adventure he was hoping to find on the island... and he was enjoying the fact that he was surviving. Thriving, even!

And he felt good about leaving. Knives was a capable combatant and while Saya wasn't she was both intelligent and cunning. It also was nice having Saya there because Knives wouldn't be lonely. He knew that wasn't something she liked. Saya was at the very least company and it seemed like they had started to get along in a somewhat friendly way after coming to an understanding.

Still he'd checked Saya's "status" to be sure. The results were... interesting.

[Saya Takagi

Female

Age: 18 born August 21

Height: 5'1" or 155 cm

Weight: Approximately 114 lbs or 52 Kg

Eyes: Orange, wears glasses or contact lens

Hair: Pink

Bust: 92 cm (F) (36")

Waist: 59 cm (23")

Hips: 87 cm (34")

Roman Stark - Owner - Relationship +3

Knives Chau - Friendship +2

Likes: Smart people, people who value her intelligence and input, plans and those who make them, knowledge, people who aren't intimidated by her, her intelligence, her sharp tongue or her family status. Likes acting like "sisterly" since she was an only child and being "motherly" stemming from a good but awkward relationship with her parents. Takashi Komuro - Childhood friend and unrequited love interest(non reciprocal interest or feelings).

Dislikes: Those with low intelligence and knowledge or people who don't value either, being ignored, people who don't value her contributions, people who only adress her by her last name and those who won't look her in the eyes when speaking. Non reciprocated romantic feelings (despite being famous for shutting down or completely ignoring being asked out/confessed to by others)

Strengths: Genius intellect, talent for analysis, deduction and forming strategies, was a member of her schools Swim team and is an expert swimmer. Inspite of her demeanor is very caring person.

Weaknesses: Tendency towards being stubborn and arrogant. She usually stays out of combat, preferring to think of strategies to help others fight. Tsundere. Slightly Self-conscious. Tends to completely forget people who ask her out after she shoots them down for some reason.

Masturbation count: 2

Orgasm count: 2]

Roman smiled. Setting some questions aside (like how and why was their relationship already at a plus three? And when and where had she "double clicked her mouse" twice already?!) he felt Saya and Knives together could be good for each other.

He rowed for the beach to the south. The band had setup camp there and even started to mark the territory as theirs. Roman had tried convincing them to move into the cove... but Burt and Carlos were both extremely, and understandably, **** to go anywhere near the Tyrannosaurus Rex.

And speaking of...

"Ahoy there! Jefe!" Carlos shouted and waved from the beach.

Roman smiled seeing him... and the totems they'd erected. He waved. "Ahoy 'Los! How goes it?" He asked jumping out of the canoe.

Carlos wadded into the surf to meet him and help him drag the canoe to shore. "Mixed bag, Jefe. More good than bad though."

Roman sighed. "Business first. Tell me." He waved towards the armed camp. There were several more huts and people as well as watch platforms in trees and towers... and several totem poles topped with skulls and crossed bones. Elk, boars, wolves... even one with a- "Is that a shark?" Roman asked the whistled. "Gnarly!"

Carlos nodded. "Had one yesterday. Had to call in the fishers and lure it into the shallows. Put up a hell of a fight. Thankfully one of the new people is handy with a harpoon. We dragged it to shore and Burt finished it off. Sharkfin soup?"

Roman smirked. "Maybe later. How many new folks?" He asked grabbing his pack and other stuff.

"Nine but two of them didn't work out. So seven more brining our total to 49," Carlos said shrugging and grabbing one of Romans bags for him. "One was a thief and the other attempted to start shit almost immediately. We taught them a lesson."

"All the way?" Roman asked.

Carlos grinned nastily. "Oh yeah. Heheh! We taught them all the way! Taught 'em good and gave 'em a one way ticket off the island!" He shook his head. "The other newcomers learned quick and were no problem though. One's even started a shop of sorts selling and trading general stuff... but..."

"That's good. I was thinking we'd have to start a market of sorts eventually ourselves. But what? More trouble?" Roman asked.

Carlos nodded. "More thefts... but not in the group. Our guys... they've been getting attacked and robbed outside."

Roman frowned and shook his head. "Well that certainly doesn't look good now does it? Bandits falling victim to bandits. Is it another group targeting us?"

"Nobody knows, Jefe," he said. "We sent out patrols but they can't find them... or they get beaten up too."

Roman grinned. "Sounds like a powerful Character to me! Hmmmm... where abouts has this been happening? I might want to look into this!"

"Cool! Heading inland into the highlands. You don't got Knives with you so I'll organize a group to join you and-"

"Nah," Roman said cutting him off. "I kind of want to go it alone on this one."

"Oh gee, I don't think-"

"Hey!" Burt came running up excitedly. "Boss! Good to see ya! Hey... you wouldn't happen to have some of that soap on you? I gotta tell you people are asking for it!"

Roman grinned and pointed at the bags Carlos was carrying. "I knew it would catch on in time! Yeah, in there. You need some Burt?"

Burt nodded shaking his head taking the sack from Carlos. "Bitch, I mean "Malty", needs it." He chuckled. "Let's just say she's gotten to be a really dirty girl! Heheh!"

Carlos shook his head. "What he means is he's been pimping her ass around the camp and now she's quite literally a dirty whore. Every filthy degrading act... and then she goes home to Burts hut for more!"

Burt shrugged smiling and Roman chuckled. "Yeah go on and take one... but tell me. Has it really started to catch on and more importantly what would you be willing to pay for it?"

"You bet it has!" Burt scratched his head. "It really gets things clean just like you said and in more ways than regular soap does! It cleans everything from clothes to teeth. As for what I'd pay? Well to be honest? I was getting pretty **** and was willing to pay the Systems price in tokens for a bar of soap, shampoo and toothpaste. Which are considered "luxury goods" so they ain't cheap at ten tokens a piece."

Roman grinned. "That's real robbery right there! Gold camp prices! Hmmm... Then I'll charge half that for a product that does all those things and more. Five tokens a bar."

"Done!" Burt readily agreed punching in thirty tokens into his bracers TRS system to exchange to Roman. "I'm grabbing six right now!"

Carlos whistled. "Looks like you've finally found your market!" He nodded and started doing the same. "Actually I'm sending you fifteen tokens right now. Hey burt pass me three of those would ya!"

Roman grinned and pressed "accept" on both. In a span of moments he'd just made almost two days worth of tokens! "Pleasure doing business with you! Take an extra bar free as thanks and pass word to Darlene for me? Heck pass it around the camp!"

Burt chuckled and nudged Carlos who grinned. "Yeah, I don't think there's a need for that," Burt said dropping the pack.

Carlos did the same pointing towards the mob of excited people coming their way. Darlene was right at the front with a rather dirty looking William Turner. "I hope you're open for business!"

Roman laughed nervously as it looked like half the camp had turned out. "Well I sure am now! Hey do me a favor and get them to line up? I'll throw in a couple free fish."

Burt and Carlos grinned. "Deal!"

Roman clapped his hands and held them up. "Alright folks today I got fish, coconuts and soap in limited quantities! So I can sell two bars person only! One extra bar for each person with ownership of at least one Character! Come on and step right up! First customer! What can I do for you today?"

"I suppose this is the place," Roman mused standing outside of a big patched purple and green tent with a sign with "M's Emporium of Miscellany" in big bold red letters... and beneath that a smaller sign that explained "Yes we buy and sell stuff!" Roman chuckled and stepped inside.

A large man(?) Wearing a long hooded dark coat and a raggedy purple bandana over his face immediately approached him as a young woman stocked shelves. "Hello stranger. Got something that might interest you. Heheheh!" Said the sinister looking figure with glowing eyes reaching to open up his coat.

"What the-?!" Roman said readying to fight.

"No man! Not like that!" Said the woman sighing and putting basket on the shelf before approaching them. "What have I told you about freaking out customers you creepy bastard? Just go stock the shelves."

The Resident Evil 4 merchant shrugged and walked away. "Sorry about him," the brunette woman with a ponytail said adjusting her glasses. "He comes from a horror game series so his creep factor is high but he's good at what he does."

"I take it that you're "M" then and this is your shop?" He asked.

She nodded and extended her hand to shake. "Emmanuelle or "Em" for short."

Roman took her hand. "A pleasure, Em. I'm-"

"Roman, right?" she said with a smile shaking his hand. "You've got quite the reputation around camp. You're the mysterious man in charge around here. You set all this up? Impressive!"

Roman smiled and shook his head. "Not alone, I didn't. We all did working together... and it's only just begun."

Em smiled and nodded. "Yeah but you were the brains behind it, right? I thought so. Well I'll tell you it's the first substantial community I've encountered." She smirked. "The "laws" are pretty draconian and harsh despite the simplicity but," she continued before Roman could interject. "They are laws. People are freer here than anywhere else I've seen. There's a bunch of wannabe small dicked dictators out there. Sad little kings of their sad little hills."

Roman smirked. "And is here really any different?"

Em nodded. "In a word, yes. Sure it's not perfect. But neither is the real world. This right here? It's the best I've found on this island so far. People can live freely with some laws and actual protection." She did make a face though. "Giving up half of my stock was a bitter pill to swallow though."

Roman shrugged. "Sorry but that's how it is. Price of entry into our little community. Not everyone is a raider or a guard. We need a stockpile of food, weapons and materials to draw from to keep this place going. The tithes afterwards are more reasonable but the upfront cost is high for a reason. It weeds out anyone who isn't going to be commited. Also it let's us keep things simple. We have a lack of "collection agents" at the moment. Carlos is filling in as best he can but he's our quartermaster, not a dedicated tax collector. Something we're working on as we grow."

Em nodded. "I said steep, not that it's not worth it. The profits I've made already if consistent will offset my losses soon enough. Speaking of," she grinned knowingly. "You came here to do business, "Captain"?"

Roman grinned too and hefted his sack. "I did! I have several goods here that I produce on the side."

"M" smiled and waved him over to a simple table setup she used as a counter. "You produce as well as lead? You are a hard worker! Show me what you got!"

Roman started laying out things on table. "I have dried and salted fish. Medicinal herbs. A few stone knives, hatchets, arrowheads and other tools. And our current biggest seller!" He pulled out the seashells full of concentrated slime soap. "An all purpose "soap" like product I produce from natural and non-polluting, nontoxic materials. It cleans everything remarkably well. Clothes, dishes, skin, hair, teeth... you name it."

"Really?" She asked poking, sniffing and then tasting her fingertips after rubbing them together. "Lime? Interesting... and not unpleasant. This is your biggest seller?" She asked inspecting the tools, testing their edges. "I'm surprised because these are well made which is a lot tricker than people think. And preserved food is always a good seller."

Roman shrugged. "Honestly it wasn't at first. Had to give some away and folks were skeptical. But today? They practically mobbed me begging for more of it. I've been selling it at five tokens a bar."

"Smart!" M said catching on. "That's half the list price for similar products in the system that are only good for cleaning specific things. I'll gladly pay you... three tokens for any you don't sell and stock them among my wares or give you similar value in trade."

Roman smiled. "Where you'll likely mark them up anyway to six in camp and seven or more elsewhere? I can do a minimum of four tokens for any of my left over soap stock. Firm."

M grinned. "Nice! You understand the basics of supply and demand. I can do four," she agreed and stuck out her hand. "And I'll gladly buy or trade for all your other items as well at a fair price."

Roman grinned looking around the tent shop. He'd already spotted several things that he and the ladies could use. "Done," he shook her hand. "Let's do some business, M!"

"Hey! It's you! Hat guy!"

Roman looked around. He'd just left M's shop after unloading his excess of goods. He'd left some items that he'd bartered for to be set aside for pick up later upon his return trip to camp.

He looked in the direction of the commotion and saw Darlene talking to two familiar looking figures and he waved to her walking over. "Hey good to see you two again!" He said waving to the guy with longish hair and his Jane Porter Character. "Sorry I never got your name. I'm Roman. You're Jane and you are...?"

"Frank," said the guy offering Roman his hand and smiling as he took it. "Franklin but it's Frank to my friends. Thanks again for you and Knife chick's help!"

Roman chuckled shaking his hand. "Her name's "Knives", actually."

Frank blinked then laughed. "Hahah! Fitting!"

"You know these two?" Darlene asked Roman. "We were just processing them for their entry... but they don't have much."

Roman nodded. "I do. Infact value whatever half their stuff is worth and I'll pay it so they can keep their things. They already paid me half of their stuff once before any of you joined in. I'll pay their entry."

"You will?!" Jane asked excitedly as Frank asked, "Seriously? No fooling?"

Roman nodded. "Completely. I'm sort of the man in charge around here. I'm not going to let you pay twice. Far as I'm concerned, you've already done that."

"Hooray!" Jane said hugging Frank, then Roman and then even Darlene. "Isn't that simply delightful?"

Darlene blushed but laughed and agreed. "It's you guys lucky day!" She scribbled down their entry as paid in full. "Boss says you were first and already paid in full that works for me! Welcome!"

"Oh hey!" Frank said snapping his fingers and reaching into his pocket. "I know you said we were square but here. Take this," he said pulling out a scrap of parchment and handing it to Roman.

"Uh, thanks?" Roman said unfolding it. He grinned looking at what looked like part of a map. "Thanks a lot! This is interesting!"

Frank smiled. "I'm glad you like it. We found a small cache in a tree hollow. It didn't contain much. Just some food and basic items but this was in there too! Of course it's kind of useless without the rest but it appears to be a-"

"A treasure map!" Jane said excitedly. "Isn't that exciting! We do hope you like it!"

Roman nodded. "I do! Are you sure you want me to have this?"

Frank and Jane both nodded. "We hope it comes in handy for you!"

"Thanks!" Roman said folding it back up and tucking it securely inside his hat. "I hope so too! I love a good adventure!"

"Hey Jefe!" Carlos said catching up with him. "You sure about heading out alone? Let me send someone out there with you. Hell I'll go out to that creepy cave and get Knives for you or-"

Roman shook his head. "I'm going solo on this one 'Los. Easier to avoid trouble if I'm only covering one ass, mine. Besides," he smiled. "I'm playing this game for the thrill of adventure and to push myself! Hard to do if I'm always being followed around, you know?"

Carlos shook his head but then smiled and nodded. "Yeah... Sure thing. And anything you earn by yourself you get to keep yourself too?"

Roman grinned. "Yeah. There's that too but that's way down on the list of my reasons! I just... I gotta get out there and push myself sometimes you know? Watch this place for me?"

"Sure thing! Oh I almost forgot!" He tossed Roman a flask. "That Minami Toba Character we picked up? She helped us set-up a still! It's not a very nice batch yet. Tastes bad because we ain't aged it or nothing and hits even worse... but we got hooch! A gift for the trail!"

Roman grinned and held up the flask. "Hell yeah! We need to start making some barrels!" He clasped hands with Carlos and patted his shoulder. "Thanks Brother!"

Carlos did the same grinning. "You're welcome! Good luck out there!"

[Roman Stark Knives Chau and Saya Takagi

Will Return In

Battle In The Highlands: A New Challenger (Character?) Appears! Introducing...

Coming Soon]