EPIC: Path of Demons and Dragons

Arriving at his workshop around 8 AM, Vahn was relieved to see Bonney hard at work with Ghislaine assisting her. He couldn’t help but notice she had swapped her pants for form-fitting black shorts and fire-resistant leg warmers, but he didn’t pay it much mind as he shifted his attention to Riko and Prushka. Seeing Vahn look her way, Prushka briefly startled before pressing the tips of her green, gem-like fingers together, retracting her shoulders, and hanging her head in shame. Everyone kept reiterating to her that she had done nothing wrong, but she wouldn’t have received careful lectures from three different people if she hadn’t done something she shouldn’t have.

’Poor girl...’ thought Vahn, exhaling faintly from his nose before promptly deciding he wouldn’t be spending the morning in the workshop. Instead, he softly clapped his hands together and said, "Please wrap up whatever you’re working on and gather at the rest area."

Though Bonney frowned when she heard Vahn’s request, she immediately set aside what she was working on to help Ghislaine clean up their shared workstation. By the time they were finished, Riko and Prushka had already made their way over, occupying the spots at Vahn’s sides as they sat atop floor cushions in a square clearing reserved for meals.

Raising his gaze to meet Bonney’s surly expression as she approached, Vahn wasn’t even a little surprised when she chose to stop in front of him with her thumbs hooking the waistband of her shorts as she asked, "Well? Out with it..." in a standoffish tone.

Observing Bonney’s actions and seeing how close everyone was to Vahn, Ghislaine tilted her head and plainly asked, "Should I sit or stand closer as well...?"

Holding Bonney’s gaze with a smile, Vahn casually affirmed, "You can sit wherever you like," thinking that Ghilsaine would perch herself atop one of the prepared cushions. Instead, she awkwardly positioned herself behind Bonney, causing the pink-haired Princess no small amount of confusion as she towered over her and stated, "Very well," before sitting down.

"What are you—!?" started Bonney, her words cutting off as Ghislaine abruptly grabbed her by her waist and guided her to sit down in her lap. Then, wrapping her arms around her in a firm bear hug, she used a firm, chiding tone to say, "It is not courageous to posture before someone you know would never harm you..."

Flushing to the tips of her ears, Bonney struggled violently in Ghislaine’s embrace, shouting, "Let go of me, you traitorous cat...!"

"I refuse..." responded Ghislaine, squeezing Bonney even tighter while rubbing her right cheek against the latter’s left. Bonney could have used Bukujutsu or unleashed her Haki to free herself, but since that would very likely destroy the workshop, she eventually settled down after looking to her front and seeing Vahn observing her with a conflicted look. He didn’t approve of Ghislaine’s methods of wrangling her, but Bonney interpreted the look as one of disappointment in her.

"Just say why you called us over already..." muttered Bonney, her face an almost luminous shade of pink as she looked to her right to avoid meeting Vahn’s gaze directly.