AN: Some of this chapter was inspired by the beautiful power of music, especially the video below. Enjoy.

We'll be back with another exciting chapter next week. :)

Chapter 20: Taco Tuesday

Brittani's soft, concerned, eyes searched his as Scott struggled with an answer. He never did have much luck with the ladies. While he'd been in relationships before, and just ended one recently, few of them lasted more than a couple of months.

In the end, Scott decided that he would just be honest. "Eloa is the leader of a local lizard man tribe near my home base."

"Is she...?" asked Brittani. She smiled slightly then drew closer and asked, "So, how did you meet?"

"I needed to cross the bridge she took control of, and we started to chat," admitted Scott.

"Chat... chatting's good..." Brittani nodded her head slightly then sighed. "You haven't talked to me since the other day..."

"Sorry, but I can only send you mail from the post office," said Scott.

"Oh? Is that it?" she asked curiously. "You would have talked to me if you had some way to do so?"

"Well, sure. You seem nice enough..." Scott affected a smile and nodded. She was close, a little too close. Why was she so close? At any moment, she might reach over and crack open his skull like a coconut.

One never know how these nutty girls would act. Eloa was practically normal compared to some of the girls he'd run across. Telling Brittani that much would no doubt end with a cracking noise followed by a loud slurping sound. Maybe even a cute feminine belch.

"I'm nice enough..." Brittani snorted then leaned back and crossed her arms over her impressive chest. "Really? Nice enough?"

"We barely know each other," said Scott, while reigning in his desire to flee. The intense pressure exuding from the girl was enough to make his knees weaken.

The pressure vanished quickly. Brittani's eyes widened and she said, "True..."

"I mean, it's sweet that you're jealous... But..."

"I'm not jealous," said Brittani quickly. She huffed at Scott a little then pouted.

He quirked an eyebrow and she snorted in response. "I'm not!" she said emphatically.

"Look. If I upset you, I'm sorry," said Scott.

Brittani laughed in a heated, angry, manner. "Upset? Why would I be upset? We aren't dating or anything..."

Before Scott could say anything the world froze once more. A message screen appeared before him with several bits of information.

You have opened a new game route.

Brittani Rotten Options

1. Distract her.

2. Embrace her.

3. Bribe her.

4. Speak sincerely.

5. Seduce her.

6. Battle it out.

7. Take your robo-loli and run.

"Seriously?" Scott stared at the list then dismissed it with a wave of the hand. The assholes in charge of the system were fucking with him. When the world started to move again, Scott chose to go with what he was originally going to do, option four.

As he began to speak, the background music shifted to a soft jazz score. He rolled his eyes slightly when the world grew dark and a spotlight shined down on him, illuminating him in the darkness.

Scott sighed softly then acquired a serious look. "Brittani. I like you. You seem like a sweet and interesting person."

"Scott, I—" she began to speak, but was shut down by Scott placing his finger to her lips. "Just listen girl..."

Brittani's eyes widened. No one had ever done such a thing to her before.

Speaking of things that never happened to people before. Scott started to speak again, but his words came out in a manner most musical. Instead of speaking normally, something changed the vocal quality to a song. "Brittani, girl you know I like you..." sang out Scott, his words slightly auto-tuned and changed in their nature from what he originally intended to say.

His eyes widened in response. Oh hell, no...

Another spotlight appeared. This one showcased Brittani.

"Scott, but I—" sang Brittani, without a hint of surprise that she was in fact, singing. He cut her off mid-sentence with another song-styled explanation. "No, girl, just listen... Love is a prison, and I just got out..."

"What, boy? How you gonna say that?" questioned Brittani in song, a hint of a blush on her cheeks. "This really how you gonna play that?"

He wanted to stop this singing bullcrap, but he could no longer speak normally. An event had begun and he was not caught up in it. "Girl, I think you're so amazin', but the booty's not what I'm chasin'... This whole world's falling down on mee-eeee..."

"Baby, let me hold you up... Not that other slut..." countered Brittani musically. "I think we could be something gree-eee-aaaat!"

"That's cool." sang Scott, "That's sweet... Sweep me up and out of the street, yeah..."

A warm smile appeared on Brittani's lips, and she started to sing. However, Scott broke in before she could, "But let's be real for a minute. How can our hearts be in it... We only just met on Sunday."

"Whoa-a-whoa boy, don't be cute," sang Brittani. She then spoke aside in a quieter tone. "Though you're good at it."

"I woulda loved it, been about it, any day of the wee-heeek..." she sang before taking a breath and continuing. Sunday, Monday..." Brittani smiled sweetly, "Even Taco Tuesday,"

"Well, you're kinda scary..." sang Scott before his eyes darted down to her boobs, "But your breasts are very..."

She reached out and pressed her palm toward him. "Nuh uh, boy. Eyes up front," she sang, just before she started the next verse.

"Oh-oh whoa a whoa-ah-oh," she sang out to transition over. The background music became slightly melancholy with a piano score involved. A little thundercloud appeared above her head then rain poured down on her.

"I'm just a girl in the rain, my heart was in pain, thought you were playing just a game.... just a game... When I checked the news out..."

"Why do you mean? What did you see? How did you even find out?" questioned Scott in song, while the music carried his voice along, occasional auto-tune to him even his tone.

She lowered her head then softly sang in a clear voice, "Old news... New news... Any day of the week, it's all the same... all the same."

Her head snapped up just as the beat sped up, "But forget about that... It don't matter... I'm courting disaster..."

Suddenly a new voice broke in, this one from above the street. A new spotlight appeared and emphasized Harley. She sang out in a deeper tone than she usually spoke, a hint of something strange in her voice. "What is this feeling? Why is my heart beating fas-ter? Why is this girl standing so close to Master?"

"Uh..." sang Scott, uncertain what to say to that. Also, why did Harley sound like Shakira?

"Boy, is this your style..." Her voice rose to a higher volume as she came close to an epiphany, "Are you a..."

"No- who-whoa-a-whoa-a-oh!" sang Scott.

"I dunno, it's been a little while..." she sang in an unconvinced sounding auto-tune.

"I swear I'm not... a pe-do-phile!" sang Scott with determination.

"Oh Master..." sang out Harley, "Heart break disaster. Why must I look so young...?"

She sang out once more, "Breaken heart on the run... Can't wait for level teeen."

Scott's left eyebrow twitched a little, but mercifully Harley's spot light went out. "What's all that abou-ha-out?"

There was a brief silence, before Brittani began to sing once more. "I met a boy, when his world ended... Lonely heart, in time suspended..."

"I hurt you, girl.... but did not intend it.... Please tell me how, the fence can be mended..." sang Scott quickly. Sure, his rhyme scheme was a little off throughout the entire event, but he did try to at least be sincere.

Brittani started to sing, but something disturbing happened. An image appeared in the air overhead. It was Eloa leaning against the railing of her bridge while she looked out at the river. "Such a sweet boy... but I'm lonely... When will he come back to bully me... Ana-ha-lly...?"

Brittani gasped loudly then looked to Scott. "Is it like that? What did I just see? What does it mean?"

"Girl please, she ain't even part of the scene... part of the scene..." sang Scott.

"Did you put it in her butt...?" she questioned in song. "Are you a man-slut?" she sang to finish that section of the musical event.

The musical score changed again, this time to a more drum and guitar oriented theme. Wind began to blow that caused Scott's hair to ruffle in the breeze. "Hey, now... I don't owe you a thing... Why should I explain? Yeah. I tapped that ass?" stressed Scott musically, before quickly continuing. "Who are you to even ask?"

"Is that it? Is that all a girl is...?" sang Brittani in her own rockstar themed musical set. "You sex her up, and forget where her heart is?" She turned halfway toward him and slapped herself on the ass.

"Built to last, got a nice ..." Scott began to sing. Brittani snorted at him mid-refrain. "...Heart," he finished slowly. But then continued, "Woman don't you see, you barely know me.... oh!"

She sighed softly then sang out sadly, "Is that all you have to say... to me..."

Scott was silent for a moment, but then a slight small crossed his lips. "I don't drink it, but we never did get coffee..."

Brittani looked up, a confused expression on her face. "Don't know what to think, right now it stinks, you moved past me... Another girl knows you Ana-ha-lly..."

"She's not the first, but wasn't the worst. Just got out of a re-la-tion-ship..." sang Scott.

"You've dated before? Are you a whore?" asked Brittani, a slight smile on her lips. "Boy you're surprising me aga-ha-ain..."

"No." sang Scott, "But my ex is now, a lesbi-an..."

There was a brief silence as they both allowed that to sink in. The various ghouls in the area looked to each other, and shared laughs and giggles at their expense.

"Girl, why don't you see...? Since you're starin' at me..." sang Scott, before she could continue. He stepped forward and placed his hand on her shoulder. "I'm still free..." he blinked once then smiled. "... to get coffee..."

"From what you say, it's hard to see..." sang Brittani sweetly. Her face became slightly flush and she continued, "My heart might not be ready.... for coffee..."

"That's OK. It's just great... We haven't even had our first date..." sang Scott before moving in closer to Brittani.

"That's plain as can be, anytime is good for me..." sang Brittani warmly, while her eyes shimmered gently in the light.

"Don't make me keep anticipating..."

"How about Taco Tuesday ...?" sang Scott, a smile on his lips.

Brittani giggled softly, "Don't know what else to say," she sang before kissing Scott lightly on the cheek. "Don't keep me waiting..."

The song event came to an end not long after that. Scott and Brittani discussed the situation for a brief moment without singing at each other. While doing so, a few other things came to light. One of which was the true nature of Discount Chopper.

"You mean, he used to carry a big axe, but you kicked his ass and took it as loot?" asked Scott.

Brittani laughed softly and nodded. "Yep, the big lug. He's strong, but he's only fast when running or in short bursts."

"Why did you even fight?" asked Scott.

"Well, his boss wants to date me, but I'm not into it," said Brittani.

Something about what she said, set Scott's teeth on edge. There was a guy out there who wanted to date Brittani, and was willing to send a big goon after her. Somehow, that did not bode well for him in the future.

They continued to chat for a moment, but soon Brittani had to leave. She was a busy girl, after all. She warned Scott about getting involved with strange girls, but did so with a smile.

"I have to do what's best for my people, Brittani," said Scott.

"I understand that all too well... Just..." she smiled prettily then sighed. "Don't forget that I like you a little, too... and keep in touch."

It was weird. The non-human girls he met so far were almost too upfront and sincere about their feelings. If they liked someone, they told them. It was also easy to see that they could be hurt easily, emotionally if not physically.

Brittani left not long after that, and the flock of ghouls still in the area disappeared somewhere as well. Just before the black energy field went down, the announcer spoke one last time. He too, was auto-tuned.

"Thanks for the show. Too bad she had to go-ah-oh... Here's some loot, though!" sang the announcer. Immediately after he sang, coins, gemstones, various random items, and even household appliances rained down from the sky.

Scott dodged a falling cake mixer, and rolled out of the way of a refrigerator that came dangerously close to squashing him. "Hey, is that a barbecue grill?" asked Scott as a premium quality stainless steel barbecue grill hit the asphalt and broke apart.

"So cruel..." he said, while mourning the passing of something so beautiful.

Harley came down and helped him collect as much of the loot as possible. Most of the appliances were damaged beyond repair in the fall, and there was nothing particularly special about them. They did not even appear to have stats. Scott decided that they were added for humorous effect.

All things said and done, it was a great haul. It would be put to good use when the shopping arcade officially opened.