Jaden Harris, professional duelist, woke in a field; regretting his all-night drunken bender. Attributing the two moons in the sky to the effects of unprocessed alcohol; Jaden pushed himself to his feet. He swayed slightly as he began walking. Searching for signs of civilization, but finding nothing besides an expansive field as far as he could see. Bending over, Jaden examined the grass, which was more in the vein of scratchy yellow straw than lawn grass. He sighed as he stood again, doing his best to keep his feet steady.

“Hello? Is there anyone out there?” He called into the darkness.

Nothing answered so he began to walk. He made it two steps before tripping on something soft. Jaden was still catching his balance when a distinctly female figure stood up from where she had been seemingly asleep in the tall grass.

“Why are you yelling in the middle of the night?” She muttered, holding her head.

“Woah, a wild woman appears!” Jaden slurred, his brain still pleasantly toasted.

“What? Hey, where are we? Who are you? Did you kidnap me?” The woman jumped to her feet and began edging backward.

“No way, that’s not my style . I don’t know where we are either.” Jaden said frantically, holding up his hands placatingly.

“Why should I trust you? All I know is that I woke up in a field with a stranger, and no idea how I got here. If you’re planning to ax-murder me, you should know, I’m a black belt in karate.” The woman continued backing away, and looked to be on the edge of bolting.

“Come on man, do you see an ax anywhere? I’m lost here too. The last thing I remember is drinking something my friend called ‘shroom beer,’ and everything’s a blank after that. In fact, how do I know you’re not the one who kidnapped me?”

The woman sighed. “So you’re just some dumb stoner who ended up here while being blackout drunk? That’s the story you’re going with?”

“Hey, not cool man. I’m not just some stoner. I’ll have you know I’m a professional sports player.” Jaden declared, puffing his chest out proudly.

The woman laughed derisively. “Really? What sport?”

Jaden coughed. “Magigio.”

“That stupid kid’s card game? That’s not a sport.”

Jaden shrugged. “It pays the bills.”

The woman sighed. “You know what? I believe you. No one who was trying to kidnap me would come up with a story this dumb. What’s your name?"

“Jaden Harris. You?”

“Eloise Gray, but people call me Lois.”

Jaden glanced in every direction, finding only open plains as far as he could see through the gloom. “So, what now Lois? Should we just pick a direction and start walking?”

Lois shrugged. “I don’t really see much choice.”

She began walking, but like Jaden, within two steps she suddenly fell forward; disappearing again into the tall grass.

“Hey Lois, you ok?” Jaden called into the murky night.

“Owwww. I think I tripped over… oh, hey I found another person.” Jaden made his way carefully toward where she had fallen, arriving a few seconds later to find another woman. The unknown woman continued snoring peacefully despite the impact from Lois falling on her. By this point, Lois had pulled herself into a crouch.

Jaden glanced at Lois first. He hadn’t been able to see her clearly, and still couldn’t see well; but he thought he saw a mane of long red hair that framed a pretty face. Cold blue eyes glared at him imperiously. He thought that in the light she would probably be gorgeous, certainly far out of his league. He looked at the sleeping woman next. She had short blonde hair, and a pale complexion. Her face wasn’t especially pretty, but it had an angelic aspect to it that appealed to him. While visually searching for wounds, he found her body was slender, and pixie-like.

“Wow, she’s really out cold.” Jaden said, bending over the woman. Grabbing her shoulder, he shook her lightly. When she didn’t react, he shook harder. Finally, she cracked an eye open.

“Euh quoi?” She muttered, cracking an eye open. With a screech, she rolled away, backing up several feet.

“Huh? What was that?” Jaden asked, thinking he had misheard.

The hyperventilating woman spoke several quick sentences in a language Jaden thought sounded French. When she registered that they weren’t understanding her, the woman tried a different tact.

“You.... English?” She said hesitantly. Jaden could see the effort on her face as she pulled out the words.

“Yes, we speak English.” Lois said excitedly.

“I… little English. Where?” She said nervously, gesturing around them.

Jaden shrugged. “We don’t know. We woke up here too.”

Her face became slightly less guarded. “I am Veronique. I am French. Your name?” She asked, pointing a finger at Jaden, then Lois.

“I’m Jaden, and this is Lois.”Jaden responded, oblivious to a glare from Lois when he stole her introduction.

“Good to see you?” Veronique said hesitantly.

“I think you mean nice to meet you.” Jaden said, smiling warmly. Standing up, he offered his hand. Veronique took it, lifting herself up with his help.

“Where?” Veronique asked, looking around.

Lois shrugged. “No idea. We start walking and hope we find something I guess.”

Veronique nodded her understanding, and the trio began walking. Jaden’s drink-addled mind compelled him to make conversation a moment later. “So, Veronique, I really like your name. It’s pretty.”

She pondered him for a moment as they walked. “This is true?”

He nodded. “Do you mind if I give you a nickname though? It’s a bit long.”

“Nick...Name?” She asked, not knowing the word.

He nodded. “Let’s see… How about Niko? It’s like a shorter version of Veronique.”

“Niko?”

Jaden nodded, and gesticulated at her to make his point. “From now on, I’ll call you Niko. Is that ok?”

“Oh, I understand. It is… ok.” She said, smiling shyly at him.

He smiled back at her, and winked. “You are often brave like this? With women?” Niko wondered aloud.

“No, I’m just plastered right now.” He said, smiling.

“Plastered?” She asked.

Jaden made the drinking hand-motion, which further confused her. Then her several years of high school English produced a fact in her mind. Plaster was a white substance used on walls. Combined with the hand motion, she reached a conclusion.

“Ooooohhhh you drink the fluid from men, yes?” Lois choked from several feet away where she had been listening to their conversation.

Jaden’s drink-addled mind failed to process the innuendo. “Ya, my buddy gave me some good stuff last night, and I’m still fucked up. Not that I know how long it’s been.” Lois was chortling quietly now, trying to maintain her composure.

Niko definitely remembered the word “fuck,” as well as its meaning. “Ah, so bold saying that. I wish to be bold too. Teach me to acquire the fluid?”

“Oh, too young to go to a bar huh? Don’t worry, when it comes to ‘acquiring the fluid’ I’m a master.” Lois gave up on maintaining her composure, letting loose a loud howl of laughter. Both Niko, and Jaden turned to her in surprise.

“What’s so funny?” He asked.

“You… It’s just… Never mind, if you haven’t realized what’s going on, I’m not going to spoil it.” She finally managed to say after another fifteen seconds of uproarious laughter.

“Um… Ok.”

Lois turned her head, using the gloom to hide the fact that she was wiping tears of humor from her face. Meanwhile, Niko threaded her arm around Jadens arm. “We be friends. This is ok, yes?”

Jaden smiled, thinking he was being friendzoned. “Of course.”

The trio trudged onward amiably into the night.