Earrings: Testing

Kazuma spent the next few hours testing out the powers of the earrings. It was a highly enjoyable experience.

He actually felt like a proper RPG protagonist as he barged into peoples' homes and rifled through their stuff without any protest from the owners. He could walk in without saying a word and the occupants took it in stride, not seeming even surprised by his presence. He tasted the soup a wizened grandma was tending and she just asked him what he thought of it. He headed upstairs and entered bedrooms and no one seemed the least bit perturbed. He even opened drawers and dragged out clothing and other belongings and the people weren't bothered by the mess as he left the stuff strewn out across the floorboards.

At one point he really got into the absurdity of it and began to walk up to individuals and greet them in order to prompt them to speak a one sentence blurb as if they were actual NPC's from some game. It was hilarious and even the ones that wanted to carry on whole conversations weren't fazed when he abruptly walked away, just like an RPG protagonist.

He even got his Link on and picked up a few potted plants and threw them crashing to the ground right in front of their owners. No Rupees but again, it was proven to him that everything he did would be considered normal and acceptable by everyone he encountered. He did feel bad about breaking people's stuff though and resolved not to be so casually destructive in the future now that he'd learned what he could do.

Aqua went along with all of this happily because she was just as affected as anyone else, her protests to the contrary aside. Individuals did take issue with her entering their homes though and he asked her to just wait outside after the first one. Kazuma couldn't really stop himself from taking certain liberties with the goddess's body as they explored the town. It was easy to rationalize. The utter briefness of Aqua's skirt meant her lovely buns were just... right there begging to be touched. The soft curve of her butt cheek just fit his hand so well as they walked along. And it wasn't like she was bothered by it. If anything, his gentle stroking seemed to calm her as she periodically started freaking out about being stuck on the mortal plane.

"Oh wow! Is that a riding bear? It's huge!" he exclaimed, drawing Aqua's attention by patting her bottom a couple of times before settling the cheek back into his palm.

"EEEK!" cried the goddess and she actually turned her body into his so that he could feel her soft breast against his chest.

He frowned even as he enjoyed the increased contact. She really was a fraidy-cat. Though he supposed a bear the size of a small elephant was worthy of fear. It seemed pretty docile, however, just padding along weighted down on all sides with equipment and what looked like a whole lot of animal parts. There was even a giant fish strapped down over its back. Two adventurers rode atop of it. One was a pretty elf-maiden! She played a long flute like instrument as she lounged back upon it. Her companion was massively muscular squat fellow with a thick red beard.

Kazuma watched them pass, imagining they were back from a trip hunting monsters to sell the drops. He grinned. He couldn't wait till he reached the level for an exotic mount! Suddenly, he remembered his intention to test the other power of his earrings and he shrugged, thinking now was as good a time as any.

Something innocuous but obvious.

Hmm... to change what was socially acceptable...

"It is normal for all adventurers to dismount and never ride their mounts when inside a city's limits." he recited quietly.

Aqua made a sound of surprise before saying with clear annoyance, "Ugh...that's so rude. Don't they know where they are?" She glared at the backs of the adventurers and Kazuma caught several other townspeople looking on them with disgust.

Somebody called out something rude at them even as the riding duo seemed to realize that they were doing something impolite. The golden haired elf songstress hastily put away her instrument and deftly slid off the bear's side while the stout fighter-type shouted back as he dismounted himself. He made a rude gesture before waving it off and grabbing a rein to guide the bear along.

Kazuma rubbed his chin in thought, realizing he was still fondling Aqua's ass he abruptly retrieved his hand. Morals! He had them still! And he would certainly need them if he had as much power to influence other people as it seemed he did. With just a sentence, he had essentially changed the thought processes of everyone on this street. Just like that. Even an immortal goddess had had her brain controlled like it was nothing.

"Um...Aqua. Do you remember ever thinking it was okay for adventurers to ride inside of a city?"

"Nope." she chirped, "Of course not."

He watched her face closely for some sign of consternation or anything, perhaps his question would jog her memory or loosen the effect. Nothing. She just stared impassively back, her expression open and unconcerned. "What about when you first saw them? You didn't say anything about it until they'd already completely passed by."

She put her hands on her hips, "Well, I was too busy freaking out about that giant bear! I had no idea this place had tamed wild beasts like that! I only noticed the tiny people on its back way later!"

Kazuma knew it was probably a bad idea but his curiosity got the best of him, "Aqua, I used the earrings. I made it normal when it wasn't before."

It took a long moment before her eyes narrowed and she cocked her head to the side. Her frown grew stronger and he could actually see the gears turning in her head. They did not seem to be turning all that fast and honestly, he got the impression they were a bit rusty. Then all of a sudden, he saw her draw the wrong conclusion or more likely choosing that one to avoid dealing with the obvious one. Her features smoothed and she playfully bopped him on the head, "Ha! Not falling for it. Try harder, Kazuma!"

Huh. He wondered what would happen when he took the earrings off.

Hmm.... something he would try out later.