Mise en Place

Last night, going to bed with two women had felt nice. It was still a little scandalous, and the weight of their arms on his chest had been comforting when he’d still been feeling guilty about getting Ava trapped with him.

Now that morning had come, he was the one that felt trapped. Ava had clung to him even more tightly in the night than she had previously. He managed to pry her off of him and escape the bed, but it’d taken nearly fifteen minutes and considering how soundly she’d been sleeping with how firm a grip, he’d thought for a moment that he’d need to drag her into the bathroom with him. But he’d escaped nonetheless, and found Hazel waiting for him in the hallway, already fully dressed.

“Good morning, Sir.” She was sipping from a mug that looked like it’d come from Hel’s office, the red blocky M of the company logo emblazoned on the front.

“Hey. Were you waiting long for me?”

“I wouldn’t say that. Most of the round your home is the only place to get coffee.” She took another sip. “I did want your advice on something.”

“Shoot.”

“I’m looking for something Ava might enjoy doing with me. Do you have any ideas?”

“Looking for anything specific?”

She paused before answering. “I’d be open to anything but the arcade.”

“I’d imagine that with her spending a chunk of the afternoon there yesterday she wouldn’t need to go again today.” He assured her, thinking about some of what the Japanese woman had told him yesterday. “You know how you were easily stopping Ata back in the challenge?”

“Respectfully, it wasn’t as easy as you make it sound. By the end it was like being attacked by a version of myself that never tired.”

“You still made it look easy. I’ve never seen you move like that.”

“I appreciate the compliment. You’ve always been much easier to protect. May I ask why you’re bringing this up?”

“You should show her how you learned to do that. She loves action movies and shonen stuff. If you can show her something like she’d see in Jane Bond she’d probably have fun.”

“Or Norato?” Hazel asked, remembering something she’d seen in his browser history.

“Sure, if you can pull off a sharingen or something. I didn’t think you knew anime.”

“I think everyone our age knows Norato.” She countered, though smiling. “Thank you. I’ll have to see what I can find down in the gym.” She downed the last of her coffee before ducking back in the kitchen and dropping off her mug in the sink.

The bodyguard started out towards the door for the auditorium and the athletic complex underneath before turning back to him. “Sir?”

“What is it?”

“If you’re looking for Ms.Turner or Aubrey at any point, I believe they were planning a late breakfast after a morning walk along the beach.”

“Without bringing you?” He questioned. If she’s already been dressed and had time to make coffee, I can’t imagine that Hel wouldn’t have brought her along.

She gave him a short nod. “I wanted to make sure I had a chance to ask you for advice about Ava first. Hopefully I can still join them after I have a chance to plan something at the gym.”

“Good luck.”

She nodded again before leaving for the auditorium. He went through his normal routine in the bathroom, then went into the closet to figure out an outfit for the day. While he didn't know if Maeve had any plans, he tried to go with something leaning towards business casual given how formal she normally was.

Once he was ready, he went to the dining hall as he did every morning, spending the short walk thinking about what Hazel might decide to do with Ava. I’m glad she’s trying to spend more time with the others. I wonder if it was Ava spending the night with us that gave her the idea.

The crepe menu was back again from last time, and Maeve looked content as she read next to her empty plate. The only other people he could see were Luna, who was sitting next to her, and Genet, who was sitting at the farthest table over by the stairs again. The host’s eyes were following him as he entered the room and approached the kitchen.

“Great job, kiddo!”

As always, the host struggled with subtlety. Luna frowned as she heard it before standing up, and Maeve set down her book. He got a glimpse of the title, A Scandal in Bohemia, before both of the other women were on him.

“I’m proud of you for last night, you made a lot of progress. You’ll have beat me in no time.” She congratulated him again as she tried to put a hand on his upper back. She remained upbeat even after he pulled her away and reminded her to keep her hands to herself. She still doesn’t seem to care about the bet she challenged me to… Richard noticed.

“What did I miss?” Luna asked them both.

“Hazel and I spent the night together, and Ava watched us have sex at her request.” He started to explain. “Then I got her locked in with us on accident, so she had to spend the night in bed with us.”

“Oh, that sounds like it was a good idea. It went well?” I’m honestly a little jealous.

“I think so. She was quieter than usual, but didn’t seem upset or anything.” He agreed.

“And…” Genet chimed in, “What else happened?”

Dick took a pained pause. Window Pane Test was offering a soft warning, but with Genet present things felt like they were flowing too fast for him to examine why. “I was trying not to go into detail without her present, but Hazel and I reached a milestone together. She was ready to tell me she loved me last night, and the second time she said it I felt ready to offer it back.”

“Oh. Good for both of you.” His friend looked like she didn’t know how to respond at first. “So that’s three now?”

Genet looked like she was about to say something before she just smiled and ducked into the kitchen.

“Y-yeah, I guess so. Three weeks ago, I didn’t even think Aubrey could be in that part of my life anymore. But I feel like I’ve gotten so lucky now with all three of them. I know there’s still the matter of making sure everyone gets along, since not everyone is as easygoing as Hazel, but this still feels like a miracle.”

“Right. Hazel is absolutely known for how easygoing she is.” Luna made it clear she was struggling to say it with a straight face.

“Next to Hel, at least.”

“Next to your sister everyone looks easygoing!”

“Stepsister, and you know what I mean. She’s not competitive over me, which makes things a lot easier than if she was.”

“Fair. You definitely need it with the other two. Can I talk to you a little quieter?” She asked.

He nodded and motioned with his head for them to move to the side of the dining hall. She nodded back and so they tried to speak quietly next to the staircase.

“What is it?” He whispered.

“I’m going to be acting as casamentera for you on your date later, and I wanted to go over what we should do.”

“What do you mean by playing matchmaker?”

The lawyer's eyes darted to Maeve, who was back to quietly reading at the middle table behind them. “She’s got a lot of hangups, but she wants long term things that I don’t. I want to keep what she and I have fun and casual but…” She trailed off for a moment. “I know she trusts you, at least enough to have helped you as much as she has. But I want her to try seeing you as a good man as much as a good person, and hopefully sit with what that means.”

Richard frowned. “I still don’t understand why you’re doing this. She’s told me she doesn’t plan on crossing that boundary.”

“I- gah. It’s complicated, and not really my secret to tell. Just trust me when I say that I’m trying to help her, and so I want to use part of your date with her today to essentially put you on the witness stand. I’ll be your lawyer, guiding you to the answers she needs to hear. If it goes well enough, hopefully she’ll explain what I’m doing this for.”

“So what exactly are you-” He started to ask before the swiveling door of the kitchen banged open.

“Hey, have either of you seen Aubrey at all? I tried asking Genet where she was, and she just told me not to worry. But she’s usually one of the first two people here after me!” Stella stopped and stared at them, noticing how tightly they’d been standing together as they’d been whispering. “I-I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”

“I mean…”

“No, you’re not.” Dick assured her. “You need Aubrey? Have you tried texting her?”

“Yes, but she hasn’t responded after an hour.”

“I think she’s probably helping Hel with something down at the beach.” He offered the explanation Hazel had given him on his way over.

“Oh. She’s with Hel? I don’t want to disturb her, or prevent her from doing something important…” Stella trailed off, starting to feel guilty.

“You needed her?” He asked.

Stella nodded, much less animated than when she’d stormed into the main dining room.

“Was it for what you were asking me about after dinner last night?” Luna asked.

“Y-yeah, it was.”

“What was it?”

“You know how she’ll barely eat anything that’s not covered in sugar or cheese?”

“It’s not as bad as you’re making it sound, but I understand.” He admitted. “She’s always been particular. She’ll eat healthier when she’s with me or an old teacher she likes to visit, but only so much.” He paused. “So were you trying to change that?”

“I hoped I could. Her idea of good food comes from a microwave or reheated by a gas station clerk. I have to be able to beat that somehow after so many years. But if Helena needs her I don’t want to take away from that.”

“I don’t think it’ll work after Hel and I spent so many years trying, but if anyone can get her to branch out it’s probably you. I’ll see if I can find her, and at the very least make sure she knows what you’re looking to do.” Dick offered.

“You really don’t have to-” Stella objected.

“I’m not going to **** her back, but I’ll at least make sure she knows in case she forgot to take her phone with her again. It’s possible she doesn’t even know you sent her anything.” The congressman placed a hand on her shoulder to try reassuring her, and watched as the pink highlights slowly returned.

“Thank you. I appreciate you.”

“Of course.”

“And I’ll come with, just in case Aubrey wants to come back but Hel needs someone to take her leash without her freaking out.” Luna volunteered herself.

“T-thank you both.”

“Of course.”

“Mind if we wait a few minutes though?” Dick asked. “I haven’t had breakfast yet, and there’s always a chance that you might get a reply before I’m done eating.”

“S-sure. I think Genet started working on yours a moment ago, she should have it out soon.” Stella promised, before taking a stuttering backstep and retreating into the kitchen.

Twenty minutes later, Stella still hadn’t received any sort of response. So the best friends left for the beach, which turned out to be empty save for Felicia’s obstacles. Luna had asked about going back, but Richard was resolved to keep going until he found them.

“If we do, this might take a while. Mind if I try to go over any problems to avoid for later?”

“Like what?”

“Is there anything Aubrey complained about that you haven’t already told me?”