Plans & Promises

“Right, that boundary line work for you, then?” Glen asked, waving a finger as a section of the map he’d laid out shimmered. A small red circle surrounded the Brighton Manor and the Moon Clan’s property as well as about a full block beyond them. That transitioned into a large yellow blob that covered most of the southern areas of Springfield, connecting both of the red circles and extending well beyond them. The boundary Glen was currently referring to, the green one, surrounded the yellow boundary as well as extending well into the north, all the way up to the Abyssal Market and well beyond the borders of the city itself.

“That will suffice, yes,” Moira nodded.

“Right, if we don’t have to spread my boys across the whole bloody county, we can knock the price down a bit… still ain’t gonna be cheap, though. Need a lot of lads and lasses to cover this kinda turf,” Glen murmured, pulling his hand away and letting the shimmer fade back into mundane ink.

“It’s a worthy price. We’ll contact our own Fateweavers to set up the Trap Barriers around the Brighton Manor and the Moon Clan as well, so you won’t have to handle that part.”

“Wasn’t plannin’ on it, love. No one ever gives away the key to their front door an’ all that. Just be sure you tell us ‘ow to get in if we ‘ave to, ‘less you’re plannin’ on lettin’ the groundskeepers and cooks ‘andle the intruders themselves,” Glen mused, chuckling mostly to himself. “I’ll put up the job request, tally the lovelies willin’ to take up the job, and send over a tally of the monthly cost along with the list of hires.”

“We’ll have payment in full for the first three months when it arrives,” Moira announced, punctuating the words by standing up from the table ceremoniously, still facing Glen.

“Right, off with the both of ya, then,” Glen said dismissively. “Got some work to do. Gonna need to contact a few of the other locations. Not enough bodies around here to keep an area this size safe.”

“How long will that take? You’ll be able to fulfill this agreement by the date we set?” Moira asked, voice firm but concerned.

“Said I had work to do, didn’t I?” Glen chuckled as he made a dismissive gesture with one hand. “Don’t worry your ‘eads off. I’ll have ‘em all on board by the time you leave Springfield, you ‘ave my word.”

John stood from the table and stepped around to Moira’s side, taking a last sip to drain the cup of tea he’d absently ordered during the particularly mind-numbing sections of negotiations. Gamer’s Body kept his joints from getting stiff or his muscles particularly sore, but he could still feel a sense of relief to be standing again.

“Oy, before you’re off and about, where’d you learn a proper taste for this stuff anyway?” Glen said, reaching across the table and gently handling the cup John had just set down. “Ain’t met many Yanks with a decent palate, whiskey or tea.”

“...From the woman Arista took from me,” John growled out.

“...Too fuckin’ right, that’s how it always goes,” Glen said, making a tsk sound and looking more defeated than abashed as he glanced away for a moment. “Genuine muck up on my end, that one. Give the lasses outside my best.”

“I’m sure the four of them will appreciate it,” John said. “My best to the ‘lovelies’ that have been sipping the same drinks for the last hour.”

“Sharp. Might even make it back if you keep that up,” Glen said, smirk returning as he tilted his glass toward John and Moira when they turned away from him. “No worries, tab’s on me.”

The two of them walked in silence all the way out the door and into the streets beyond. John even waited until they had put a full block behind them before reaching out to the others.

”Gather up. We’re heading out, meet us near Jensi’s Armory and I’ll send you all home soon.”

“You did well, John,” Moira said, voice tinged with genuine praise. “Aside from the part where you almost started a brawl.”

“Well… I have to admit, I didn’t think he was calling me there just to confront me about Arista,” John admitted. “Even after you told me about most mercenaries being at least somewhat affiliated across the Abyss. From the way it sounded, whatever was between them was a little more than just a professional familiarity though.”

“I knew that Arista’s operation was somewhat independent, and I thought that was enough… else I’d have never let you near that place, or warned you to stay away from Springfield entirely. They will endlessly seek out vengeance if anyone retaliates directly against them for an honored contract. It seems that’s not their intention, though that makes me wonder why bother to insist on your presence in the first place…”

“That confuses me too. There’s no reason for him to believe a word I said, but telling him that Arista was alive… he genuinely seemed to believe me. At least a little bit,” John mused.

“Yes, and I’ll thank you to avoid giving away any information regarding that particular incident in the future,” Moira grumbled. “You’re wanted enough without that becoming public.”

“It was probably stupid, yeah. If for no other reason than giving intel away to a mercenary group, I suppose. But I don’t know, I felt like he deserved to know that much. Gaia knows why, he seems like an ass.” The last words came out with a derisive snort, earning a small chuckle from Moira.

“Well, aside from those matters, you showed a great deal more insight than I expected. You caught on to the fact that he’d filled the restaurant with guards without my input, and I’m not sure if he believed you about a fourth person watching over us, but I could tell the comment caught him off guard.”

“Couldn’t help myself on that one. Fucker’s too smug for his own good,” John replied, finally letting himself break into a smile. “Don’t want him getting any ideas or thinking he’s already got me figured out.”

“Of course not,” Moira agreed, then shifted her gaze to their right. “Speaking of which, they’re here. That… is Shishun, right?”

“Yeah, that’s her. Pretty neat trick, huh?” John mused. Sophia and Lerianna were recognizable enough – Lerianna’s hat almost made her stand out more, if only for how awkward the bunny girl looked while wearing it. Shishun, on the other hand, John might not have recognized if it weren’t for the other two, despite having seen her only a little over an hour ago.

“Indeed. Is that one of Vallya’s illusions?”

“N-no,” John said, catching his verbal stumble before it could become a full-on disaster. He lowered his voice as he continued, though they were in an isolated enough part of the streets he wasn’t sure it was necessary. “This is her own ability. She uses mana to reshape her body, which she says is something similar to how Sophia’s wings can turn into mana and withdraw into her body. The rest of the changes are all just visual, created by a thin layer of mana she turns into light that reflects whatever colors and hues she wants.”

“Impressive. That would throw off anyone with the ability to detect or see through illusions… though an aura reader would be able to detect the mana regardless, if they were skilled enough. Perhaps in the future bring Vallya along as well – she had the ability to suppress auras and hide her spells, if I recall correctly?”

“Yeah… maybe next time,” John said noncommittally. By then the other women were upon them, saving John from feeling obligated to answer further.

“I am glad that you were not assaulted, Father. I assume negotiations went well?” Sophia asked as soon as they were at a casual speaking distance. They huddled together down a side street, not a proper alleyway, but deserted enough that John trusted they would not be overheard by mundane means.

“As well as could be expected,” John confirmed. “Are you three ready to head back?”

“Affirmative.”

“Yeah, whenever. You sure you don’t want us to stick around until you’re back at the Manor?” Lerianna mused. “I don’t mind getting a little more sun. You know, the real one.”

“It should be alright. Things were a bit tense at times, but I don’t think they have any intention of attacking, whether I’m alone or not. Besides, I won’t be going back right away, so there’s no point in dragging you all along with me; I can always summon you back if something happens.”

“Business in town? I have to return home and inform my father about the results of our meeting. I’m afraid I won’t be able to accompany you. Is this something I should be aware of?” Moira asked.

“No. W-well… maybe? It’s kind of a… a date,” John admitted, not sure whether he felt more awkward about telling her about the date because of their feelings or because he was doing something so mundane and trivial right after a major part of preparing for a war.

“Ah,” Moira said, brow quirking as she questioned John in that familiar way only she could. “I suppose you would not have wanted company regardless, then.”

“D-don’t you get that tone in your voice, missy,” John grumbled, keeping one eye trained on the very unamused Warden as his mana began to build. With a quick set of casts, all three of his creations warped away, leaving John alone with the redhead. “I’ve spent almost every day since getting my abilities running out of one crisis and into the next. Whatever comes after this war, I’m sure it won’t take long before we have something else to train and prepare for. I’m just… trying to live my life as best as I can in the circumstances.”

“I understand, believe me. The burdens of survival and leadership can take their toll. And there is only so much training one can do in a day...” Moira agreed hesitantly, her eyes not focused on John.

“...But you can’t let yourself relax while the Order is at risk,” John finished her unspoken words, a gentle smile cresting his face as he stepped a little closer to the Warden, affectionately nudging her. “I’m well aware. Otherwise I would have asked you on a date already.”

“...Ah.”

Moira’s face didn’t move except to breathily speak the word, but the blush spreading over her cheeks told him how much the admission had affected her. John leaned in closer, pressing their shoulders against one another, and Moira met his gaze with an admirable amount of stoicism.

“How about when this war is over… when we’re back here in Springfield and everyone is safe… we have a night on the town. Just the two of us. Dinner, a movie, skating rink – hell, by then it might be cold enough to go ice skating in the park. A date, a proper one.”

“I’ve… never actually been on a date,” Moira said, the admission spoken more to herself than John, or so it seemed by the way she was looking toward the ground, almost smiling. “I think… I think I would like that, John. Shall we make it a promise then?”

Moira held out her hand, a clenched fist extended toward John. The uncertain Gamer hesitated before gently giving Moira’s gauntleted fist a bump with his own – which caused Moira to break out in a genuine fit of giggles. When the Warden had finished her refreshingly rare loss of composure, she cleared her throat and did her best to steel her gaze again.

“Forgive me. I had meant to make a vow to you, though I suppose it is my fault for not explaining… Never mind then, it was-”

“No, that’s wonderful. Here, lead away,” John said, putting his fist to Moira’s and holding it there this time.

“Oh, well then – let us make this vow together. One week after we return to Springfield, we shall have a… a date night!” Moira declared, as if announcing a great triumph. She pulled her fist from John’s and immediately clasped it over her heart, a gesture John did his best to mirror.

“Yeah, it’s a promise. Or a vow,” John affirmed. “But why the long delay? I don’t mind waiting, but why celebrate a whole week after we get back?”

Moira’s face fell slightly, though there was still a bittersweet smile on her lips even then. “John, we are going to war. We will need time – time to rest, time to recover, time to pick up where we left off… time to grieve those that we have lost, however many that may be.”

“Ah…”

John frowned a bit at the thought. It wasn’t as if he didn’t know they were getting into something severe – something far more dangerous than their street war against the Cabal, and far larger in scale than his extermination against the Albidians over the last year. But somehow the question of how many Order knights, how many friends, how many lovers would make it home… John never could bring himself to think of it long enough to make his best guess at an answer.

“B-but I appreciate it! Just… let’s make sure that we have time. This is… this is my first date. And more importantly, my first one with you, John. Let’s make sure that we’re both in the right state of mind to enjoy it, alright?”

“Of course. I suppose that I’ve probably kept you long enough already…”

“Yes, I should go. I’ll message you if any of the contract details change in a way you need to be aware of. I know you’re not doing anything crazy, but be careful, alright, John? For me. You have a bad habit of getting kidnapped around here,” Moira noted, the last part said with the tone of a joke, but with a look that told him it very much was not.

“Of course. I’m glad I’m not the only one who noticed,” John responded, mirroring her tone and the underlying aggravation. Moira let a soft snort of amusement free as she turned away, waving back one last time.

“Good luck, John. Enjoy your date. I do mean that, strange as it sounds.”

”Strange… yeah, I guess it is,” John noted, smirking as he mused over the thought in his mind. ”Just a few days ago we both confessed to each other… and here she is telling me to enjoy my date. Not accounting for all my other lovers and crazy powers. The hell did I do to deserve this kind of life?”

It was a question John wasn’t sure he’d ever get an answer to, so he focused on one with a much faster response time. John pulled his cell phone out of his inventory and took only a moment to scroll through his limited contacts. The dial tone played twice before he heard a soft, breathy voice on the other end of the line.

“John, you’re done already?”

“Already? It didn’t feel like it was that quick,” John said. A soft giggle filled his ear, the kind that made it hard for him not to smile in return even with no one around.

“Well, it’s still early enough for a late lunch… if you’re still up for that date after all that work?” Layla asked, a hopeful pause hanging in the air. “I could meet you in the Market in just a few minutes.”

“Absolutely. I had a couple ideas for places to go, but a lot of them are just mundane places. I still haven’t gotten to really experience a lot of the more peaceful side to the Abyss, so I don’t know what there is to do for fun. Did you have anything in mind out here? I would love to see what a magical date looks like.”

“Oh! If that’s the case, I think I might know the perfect place. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Alright, I’m over by-” John stopped himself short, realizing it would take longer for him to even get the name of a building out than it would for the talented aura sensor to track him down on her own. “Well, you’ll find me, I’m sure.”

Another giggle lilted its way into John’s ears, the faint sound of a door opening and closing in the background signaling that Layla was on the prowl.