Interesting Characters
After checking in at the volunteer desk, Esther found her assigned post on the con floor. It was her job to answer questions and make sure every attendee wore their con badge visibly. If they didn’t have one, she was supposed to point them back to the ticket line.
Half-way through her shift, Esther spotted an elaborately dressed huntress but couldn’t place her from a particular fandom. She wore a butter-yellow leather tunic over matching pants and brown leather boots.
“Have you seen three wizards in wine-red robes?”
“You look great!” Esther exclaimed, ignoring the question. “Did you make that outfit yourself?”
“The wizards!” the woman urged impatiently.
“Geesh, okay. I saw some wizards earlier who were super serious about their cosplay. I’m guessing they’re the ones you want, but I haven’t seen them in hours.”
“It is of vital importance that I find them,” the woman pressed. “I am Klaia, chief hunter of the Trataqi tribe. These wizards seek the Star Stone, which has been traced to this conclave. If they procure the Star Stone for Vryslik, Claimer of Worlds, all is lost.”
“Uh, okay…” Esther nodded slowly, glancing at a couple who had stopped to listen. “I’ll keep that in mind, but I still haven’t seen them.”
“If you do see them, they must be stopped.”
“I don’t think I can do that…” Esther shrugged. “As long as they bought tickets…”
“None of you know what is at stake!”
Klaia scowled, storming away in a majestic huff.
“We get some interesting characters here, don’t we?”
Esther’s heart raced when she turned to see the man standing beside her. Without thinking, she blurted out, “You’re Captain Steampunk.”
“Uh, yeah,” he laughed. “But you can call me Nate.”
“You’re not at your table,” Esther observed bluntly.
Despite catching sight of Nate a few times earlier, and passing by his table to check out his latest drawings of fictional characters in steampunk style, Esther still hadn’t gotten her chance to talk to him until now.
“I have a friend watching it,” he told her. Then added, “You know Marty, from Ashton Comics?”
“Of course!” Esther exclaimed. “His shop is across the street from my best friend’s yarn shop, Audrey’s Knit Nook. Back in Ashton. Well, obviously, it’s in Ashton, since you know it’s across the street from Marty’s shop. Assuming you know where Marty’s shop is… but, of course, you would know that, being his friend and all.”
Esther paused, catching her breath, then felt compelled to add, “And because his shop is called Ashton Comics. Like, where else would that be but in Ashton? Right?”
“Uh, right,” Nate smiled uncertainly, and Esther wished the ground would open beneath her trembling feet.
“Well, I’d better get back now.”
“Okay. I’ll see you around!” Esther called after him, trying to convince herself that her nervous babbling hadn’t been that bad.
- If you’re hoping Esther has a shot with Nate, click here
- If you’re more curious about Klaia and the wizards, click here
You’re reading Audrey & Esther Geekify Greenville, A Twist Your Fiction Storybook online! If you enjoy these sample pages, you can buy the full book here.
With 3 genres, 22 possible endings, and even a time loop, Audrey & Esther Geekify Greenville will lead you through wacky journeys again and again!