Get Ready!

Luna was currently looking all around the store. Each time she came across something she may need, she told the shopkeep's assistant to add it to our order. The poor young man had broken out into a sweat attempting to keep up with the energetic beast girl.

The shop we were currently in was a produce store. They dealt with the local farmers who produce fruit, vegetables, herbs and more. I had tasked Luna with ensuring we would have several months' worth of food and provisions in my storage. We had already stopped by the bookseller. Luna had acquired quite a few books on foraging, herbs and natural remedies, and a plethora of cookbooks. Using the newfound books, she placed a massive order at the first of multiple food sellers we visited to get all the required ingredients.

As she stared in wonder at the cookbooks and the food all around her, I calmly observed. A smile lighted up her face as her eyes shone with the excitement of a child on Christmas morning. There was no way I was going to rain on her parade by trying to rein her in. I had decided that one of my goals in this new life was to make sure Luna's smile never had a reason to fade ever again.

As I reflected upon my priorities, Luna had finished up with our order. She had paid and directed the store staff to deliver our purchases to our room in the resort. The man, now freed from Luna's commands, scurried into the back room. Luna took my hand as we headed to the next shop.

Next, we placed orders with the butcher, baker and the dairy. Luna, now content we were fully equipped with food, realized I had yet to purchase anything. "Master, where did you want to go?" I pointed towards the next shop down. It stood with a few metres gap around all sides of it as several chimneys sprouted from its roof, like a forest of mushrooms, belching smoke. The rhythmic chiming of metal meeting metal rang out from the open storefront as we moved closer. "The blacksmith?" Luna confirmed. "Exactly, I want to see what tools they have there. Both for cooking and for crafting."

We went into the smithy, where we watched a muscled man in his early forties strike a piece of metal over and over as several men in their early to mid-twenties around him did the same. The men all looked distinctly similar in their features; they all had short brown hair, thick eyebrows and a bushy mustache. We were taken in by the surreal sight of the men mirroring not only the looks but also the strikes of the man. "Welcome to Ralph and Sons Smithy! How could I help you today?" A voice snapped us out of our reverie as it called from the right.

We looked over to the till. There stood a woman of a similar age to the man leading the smithing. Though she exuded quite a bit of youth through her cheery disposition and evident energy, she gave off from her greeting. Her body also defied what I had expected of a woman of her age in a medieval fantasy world. She was wearing a white cotton blouse and black ankle-length skirt, with a leather apron covering the front. The apron was impressive in how it made, even more so evident than they already were, her large bosom catch the eye. And sag they did not, thanks to the hard work that had formed the defined muscles she had across her body.

As my eyes took in the wonders in front of me, I felt my right hand get squeezed abruptly. Uh oh, Luna noticed my lecherous gaze. Hopefully, this lady didn't see as well. Finally, bringing my eyes up to meet hers, I found a pair of dark blue eyes that sat above a pair of blush-tinged cheeks. Oops, I guess she noticed my stare. I checked her expression. It seemed more like she was flattered by a young man's attention than upset by a pervert. That's good. Though I wonder if that means the old man spends too much time pounding iron and not enough time pounding more important things.

Refocusing myself, I strode over to the madam with my hand extended, "I am John, it is a pleasure to meet you." Taking a step forward to meet my handshake, I watched as the light from the nearby window illuminated her beautiful orange hair. "Alexandra, a pleasure." When Luna did not introduce herself but rather race up to hold my arm tighter, I made the introduction, "This is Luna." "Well, aren't you a beautiful young lady!" Alexandra cooed, immediately closing the gap that had appeared between her and Luna. "Th-thank you. You are very pretty too!" Luna returned the compliment as she loosened her death grip on me.

Alexandra, prompted by my mention of Luna's love for cooking, immediately took her through the many appliances they had for sale. I followed behind, where I chided myself for having a stupid boy brain, where I let myself think with my lower head and ended up upsetting Luna. After picking out several pieces of cooking equipment, crafting tools and hardware, and a heap of cookware, Luna and I found ourselves in the town's lunchtime rush. We stood in a widened area of the main street, where there were dozens of food stalls set up, hawking their wares. I noticed Luna's adorable little nose twitching as she took in the smells of all the delicious snack foods.

I directed her to find us a seat while I went and collected some tasty-looking snacks. I got an assorted set of meat skewers, some dried fruits and a pita wrap-like thing. On my way to find Luna, I also stumbled across a stall selling fruit water in reusable water skins, so I picked up a dozen of them. I finally got to the bench that Luna was at and took a seat next to her. We were just off the street in a narrow alley that was being provided shade by the grove of trees growing in the backyard of the manse that sat next door. I checked Luna's face to see if there was any hint of her being upset with me over my wandering eyes. Luckily I did not detect any smouldering anger there.

I handed her the food as I put away all but two of the skins of juice. Then I took back my share of the food. After we finished the wrap and the skewers, we washed them down with the fruit-infused liquid. I held out the bag of dried fruit for Luna to take some, but instead, she took the whole bag. Looking at her with confusion, she giggled before patting her lap to indicate I should rest my head on her lap. I did so, facing upwards so I could look up at her. She smiled down at me. Placing the bag next to her, she put a piece of the candied fruit in my mouth and then pooped a matching one in her own. While chewing away on the first piece, she brought her hand up to me and started running her fingers through my hair.

"Um, are you not upset with me then?" I asked bashfully. "Me mad at you?" Luna's hand froze as she looked down into my eyes with her head tilted. "I thought you were mad at me!" Confused even more by Luna's words than by her lack of anger, I inquired, "What for?"

"For interrupting you earlier with Missus Alexandra. I just got worried..." Luna started to explain before I interjected, "And that is why I thought you might be upset. You made me realize how unfair I was to you by letting my eyes roam like that. I never meant to make you jealous." Blinking at my explanation, Luna asked, "Jealous?" Blinking back, realizing there was some gap between our thought processes, I clarified, "Yeah, right after affirming our feelings for each other last night, I then did the unthinkable and let myself stare at another woman like that. Is that not why you squeezed my hand when we were in the smithy?"

Realizing the cause of our weird conversation, Luna asked me a simple question, "Master, does everyone practice monogamy where you are from?" "Yeah, everyone in my nation espoused to do so. Polygamy was illegal, actually." Luna looked surprised at that, "Illegal? How strange. Was there a reason for it?" "Yes, but it was a mixture of religious influence and several other very complicated factors..." I trailed off, not wanting to get into the long history of polygamy from my old world. "Is it a common practice here?"

Scratching the back of her head, Luna elaborated, "Not the standard for every man, per se, but it is typical of the rich and powerful. So when it comes to you, Master, I fell for you with the knowledge that it what be near impossible for me to have a man of your capability to myself. So I am prepared to support you in any romantic conquests you want to make. However-" Luna's eyebrows dramatically assumed the 'disappointed parent' position as she readied herself to lecture me, "-that does not mean you can go after every pretty girl you come across, especially not an already married one with at least five kids. No breaking up families, you got it?"

Defying her expectations, as she had just defied mine, I burst into laughter. "Don't worry. I am not an uncontrollable lascivious beast. I don't pounce on every woman I come across. Only those that send my heart a fluttering." I reached up and brought Luna's head down to kiss her. We shared a lengthy kiss before breaking apart.

"I was mainly staring because I was mesmerized by the size and perkiness of her breasts." I grinned at Luna. Rolling her eyes at my boyish immaturity, I heard her mumble, "Those were some big titties..."