To Be Human

Festival

  It was early morning, but the capital was already buzzing and alive while preparing for the festival that would start later in the day and finish the following night. To make some money, we were setting up a food stand to sell chicken wings. The others apparently had done the same thing last year and made quite a bit of profit.

  However, despite the happy atmosphere of the town, the air was heavy around our stall. Last night something had happened, but I wasn't sure what as I had slept through it. However, Nina was upset with Bacchus, and he was awkwardly trying to get back on her good side. She had yet to look at him or even speak to him and even painted an 'X' over his face on the sign she was working on.

  "Nina, is this okay?" The drunk god nervously asked while looking over his shoulder. She didn't answer, and I glanced between the two while carrying a box of peppers for Rita. "Nina?"

  "Stop bothering me, pervert." Nina snapped. Rita and I looked to Hamsa, and I rose my brow. 'Pervert?' I mentally questioned.

  "Young lady.... Please remember how Bacchus kindly opened up his home to provide you and your sister a place to stay when you had nowhere else to turn." The duck quacked.

  "Whatever."

  "I think that's a bit cruel to dismiss." Hamsa flinched, and Rita took a handful of the peppers and put them into her giant bowl where she was mixing up various ingredients to soak the chicken wings in.

  "Nina, we don't have enough chili peppers and chicken wings." Rita piped up. "Could you buy some?"

  "Okay." Nina rose from the sign and went over to Rita as the zombie doctor was wiping off her hands.

  "I should have bought more. Nina will be in quite the predicament if that handsome man shows up and we're out of wings." Rita said to Hamsa.

  "Yes, you're right. If that handsome man you arm wrestled shows up, we've got to let him try some."

  "Hey, cut that out!" Nina gave Hamsa a look.

  "What's this man you're talking about? Nobody told me about him!" Bacchus rose his voice, but he cowered back to the other sign he was working on when Nina growled at him.

  "He sure was a handsome man. He had a noble dignity about him."

  "I hope he comes."

  "I'm off, then!" Nina said while now holding the basket as Rita handed her some money.

  "Wait, Nina, how about you get the peppers, and I get the wings? It'll be faster." I suggested.

  "How come I have to get the peppers?" She pouted.

  "To make sure you don't eat the wings." I replied flatly.

  "Like I'd eat raw chicken wings!" The pink-haired girl waved her hand, but I just looked at her. We were looking at each other for a few seconds before she finally cracked. "That was one time!" I raised my brow. "Okay, it was three, but I didn't know it was raw until I already ate it!"

  "You get the peppers, I get the meat." I plucked up some of the coins from her hand as her shoulders slumped.

  "Fine."

  "Don't eat the peppers." I smirked while walking away.

  "Lila!" She whined, and I chuckled while pocketing the coins and heading for the butcher stand. It took me a little while to get there, but I picked out the fresher wings and bought them. I could tell they were better from their scent and color, and I handed over the coins as the butcher gave me the bag full of chicken wings.