A lonely redhead....

Sitting in the grass of the Courtyard is a woman, wearing the Coinpilfer uniform immaculately. Seriously! It makes you feel a bit bad as you look over your own partially untucked and wrinkly shirt -- you can't even see any fold lines on hers, and not even a single tomato sauce stain on her blazer either! She's wearing a wide-brimmed and floppy straw hat, with her long red hair spilling from the back of it and over her navy blazer. As you approach, you get a closer look at her face -- her eyes are super sparkly and starlike, and her features are so fine and elegant.{if BankCuddle == 1} You did think so, but you weren't sure until now -- this is Nora, the woman who took you from the bank to her apartment!{if ArenaAskNewt == True} AND the woman that Newton says can help you get into the Arena!{endif}{elseif ArenaAskNewt == True} Given how super duper red her hair is, this is probably the person Newton was saying could get you into the Arena. Hey, wow, she was the champion last year? Hopefully you can see her in action sometime!{endif}

Sitting next to her in the dewy grass is a brilliantly polished and shiny suit of full metal plate armour. Like, full! Toes, feet, legs, torso, hands, arms, everything but a helmet. Along every edge of every single plate on the armour is a gold-coloured rimming, which doesn't even look like it's fake gold. As you approach and plop yourself down in the grass just in front of her -- hey, the dewy-ness is kinda wetting the bum of your pants, this was a bad idea -- she looks up at you from her lap. In her lap you can see two small hammers, with bladed faces and curved handles. So cool.

{if BankCuddle == 1}"Oh, Debbie!" She says, eyes showing her pleasant (but also big) surprise. "You.... actually made it in."

"Yep!" You beam. "Did they end up getting your card ready?"

Nora brings her hand up to her mouth -- oh hey, she's wearing those optional navy elbow gloves -- and lets out a light laugh. Was.... that an answer?

"Well, if you're here because you want to be paid for more cuddling, I suppose you came at a good time. I'm feeling a little bit irritated right now."

"Why?" You tilt your head.{if ArenaAskNewt == True} You're actually here to get into the Arena, but that's not a problem. You still want to know if you can help her!{else} You're actually just here to say hi, but if she needs cuddling then you're super the person to go to.{endif}

It turns out that she's annoyed because she's waiting for her partner, and has been for ages. She's running very late. And since they're both third years, and most of their work is partner-based and self-run, Nora's not exactly grinning and winning about it.

"She's been like this since we returned to school. I need to set her straight over the next few days, remind us both why we're here." Nora slowly stands up, tucking her little hammer handaxes by the handle into her belt. Her posture is perfect, even though she's holding the neat pile of armour on her arms in front of her chest. For some reason, you feel like you should offer to carry it for her.... "I suppose I've waited for long enough. She's not coming.{if ArenaAskNewt == False} If you need me, I'll probably be inside the Arena over there. I'll tell them to let you in."{else}"

Before she can leave, you quickly pipe up. "Hey, Nora?"

She turns. "Yes, Debbie?"

"Can you- um, could you please... I'd like to be allowed to see into the, you know, Arena and stuff, so would you be able to...."

As you trail off, she brings her gloved hand up to her mouth and laughs again. Okay, really, is that supposed to be an answer or what? Then, adjusting her straw hat, she says "Oh you poor, sweet girl. Yes, Debbie, you can come and see me any time you'd like."

Oh. Nice!{endif}

With that, she carries her stuff over towards the student set-up tent marked as The Arena and disappears inside. Hey, that was nice, seeing her again! You should probably go check on her in there sometime. Anyway, with that all done now and your curiosity satisfied, you stand back up and look around the place some more!

{else}"And who might you be?" She asks in the most level, elegant, and dreamy voice you've ever heard. MAN, her eyes are so.... wow! It takes you a few seconds longer before you realise that you're supposed to respond.

"Ummmm.... Debbie!" You shout as soon as you remember the answer. She brings one hand up to her mouth -- oh hey, she's even wearing those optional navy elbow gloves -- and lets out a light laugh of amusement. What's funny?

"Well, Debbie, I'm Nora. This is my final year at Coinpilfer, I'm top of my class, and I'm rather irritated at the moment. Now, tell me about you."

Okay, dude, for real. Her eyes are so sparkly. It's like there's a whole galaxy in there! A-and it's not like you're interested in dirty stuff, but from what you can see through her immaculate uniform she's got a really awesome body too. Not that you're interested!

"Ummmm....." You trail off as you look at her face more, furrowing your brow in confusion. What should you tell her? You want to make a good first impression. Hmmm.....{if ArenaAskNewt == True} "I.... I'd like to be allowed into The Arena?" You try.

She smiles brightly at you. At you! "Well, I can help you out with that! If there's something that you'll do for me."

{else} "Ummmm.... why are you irritated?"

With a sigh, she explains that she's been waiting for her partner for ages. Since they're both third years, and most of their work is partner-based and self-run, Nora's not exactly grinning and winning about how late her partner is right now.

"In fact, there might actually be something that you could do to help me."{endif}

"Sure!" You say a little bit too quickly.

"I'm going to pack up my things and go -- I think I'll be waiting here forever otherwise. But you'll be able to find me in The Arena, and I'll tell them to let you in even though you're a first year." Sounds good so far. "What I'd like from you..... if you can keep a secret?"

You nod hard and rapidly.

"I mean it, I have a reputation to uphold as last year's Arena champion and as the top of my class, so no telling anybody about this."

You nod hard and rapidly.

She looks you over carefully, before a small smile finds her face and she continues. "There's a lot of things that stress or annoy me. I want you, whenever I'm upset or annoyed, to give me cuddles and affection as I ask for it. You're adorable, and your body is.... well, look at it. But you can't tell anybody about how you make me feel better, alright?"

Wait.... she's asking you to cuddle her? You get to cuddle her?? And get let into the Arena??? That's like being paid for being paid! It'll be hard not to tell anybody, but you'll do your best!! You quickly and excitedly agree. Nora looks very amused to see how you jump around and do your little victory dance. It's more like a victory sway that has arms involved since you're sitting down, but it sends the same message. You made out like a bandit with this one!

With a smile and a nod, she collects all of her stuff, stands with perfect posture, makes her way over to The Arena tent, and disappears inside. And you get to go in there whenever you want now! Heck yeah. That was a worthwhile sit down! And now that it's done, you stand back up and look around the place some more.

{endif}