Settle Up Pt 2

"You don't have to do this you know?"

Walt looked at Sasha and smiled. "I know but it's one of my favorite things to do." He reached up and patted the horse. "I love this. It's important work... and now I can spend time doing it with you. Good things all around."

Sasha smiled at him over the cup of coffee that he'd brought her. "Is that a fact?"

Walt let the horse go and leaned by the corral railing and grabbed his cup. "It is." He took a sip. "I learned a longtime ago to enjoy the simple things in life. Especially mornings like this... somedays things just go all to hell no matter what you intend. Enjoy the calm before that happens."

Sasha nods. "I get that." She holds out her cup. "Simple joys."

Walt smiled. "I knew you would." He clinks his cup against hers. "Simple joys."

They both drank. "So you got plans for later?" She asked.

Walt nodded. "Yeah. After breakfast I'm going to go work on Senko's shrines some more. Get more done before getting back to work tomorrow. I also got gifts for some of yall that need handing out. And later..."

Sasha had heard, everyone had, and nodded. "You'll be fine. She's looking forward to it!"

Walt nodded. "She's important to me. All of you are of course but... it all started with her."

Sasha grinned. "You're a big softie, Walt! She is too! You both love each other so much. Kind of sweet really."

Walt chuckled. "Yeah?"

Sasha nodded. "Yup." She patted his shoulder. "You'll be fine. You're only nervous because you care so much. Everybody is rooting for you two."

Walt nods. "Thanks Sasha. You're a good friend."

She smiled widely. "Anytime and so are you! Come on let's go finish up chores and then breakfast! I'll even come help with the shrine!" She sees he's about to say something but she continues on ahead. "Because I want too! And I bet others do too!"

Walt looks at her smiling and nods. "Alright. Let's do that then."

As they finish up the chores he asks. "So how's things in the bunkhouse with you ladies?"

Sasha says while working, "A little better each day. Right, Lydia?"

Lydia waves from a few stalls down where she and Aela are pitching in. "That's correct. Most of us are getting along splendidly! Sasha and Haruhime do a good job. Haruna us sweet and Tsuyu is actually very friendly if a bit blunt."

Aela finishes up with her pitchfork. "True. And even the others are mildly improving. Pirotess and Anastasia are at least acting somewhat polite. The other two..." she trails off and shrugs then goes to dump the wheel barrow in the pile marked "Gardner".

Walt nods. "Well if they give yall any trouble let me know." He looked around. "Alright, let's get washed up and go eat!" While they did that he said, "I've been thinking. It might be good to have some of you all out patrolling the mountain from time to time. If some of you are up to it that is?"

"Like guardsmen?" Lydia asked.

Walt shook his head. "No, nothing like that... though looking out for trouble would be nice. I meant looking after it. Keeping an eye out for bears, checking the trails, making sure things are reasonably safe and as they should be. I haven't made a decision just yet but if some of you want to volunteer for that sort of thing, I could open up some of the other cabins and buildings. Give some of you a chance to have space of your own instead of piled in the bunkhouse together."

"You're not trying to get rid of me, are you?" Sasha said fearing losing her meal ticket so quick.

Walt laughed and hugged her with one arm. "Not on your life!" Letting the Relieved Sasha go he looked at Aela. "I thought it might give some of you a chance at some autonomy. A little bit of freedom to do as you like. Could even transform and move around a bit."

Aela nods and looks thoughtful. "That night be nice... I'll have to think about it."

Walt also nods drying his hands. "I also thought it might be something Pirotess or Demona might like if they settle in a bit. Even I can see how much Pirotess enjoys the forest here. Maybe Demona might like her own gargoyle rookery further up the mountain."

Lydia chuckled ruefully. "We might all enjoy that actually. I know she can't help it but her transformation this morning was quite the alarm clock since she spent the night for a change."

Walt shook his head. "I kind of been looking into helping with easing that a bit. Might improve her demeanor a wee bit if she didn't go through that twice daily. Sorry I hadn't even considered how that'd wake you all up. I'll get right on that."

"It's quite alright, my Tha-," Lydia shook her head embaressed. "Sorry, habits. Walter. We'll go let the others know breakfast will be shortly." She and Aela headed for the bunkhouse.

"So what would I be doing then in this hypothetical situation?" Sasha asked as she and Walt walked towards the house. Carrying the four cups.

"I was thinking you could be the go between for the separate groups in that scenario." He said as they approached the main house. "Check in on everyone periodically when your chores are finished and you have the time. See if they need anything and how they're doing and report it back to me. Friday can tell me everything of course, but human interaction is important also."

Sasha nodded but sighed. "If that's what you really want I can do that. I don't relish the idea of spending all day, everyday in the saddle and climbing the mountain when I'm not doing chores. It's a lot of ground to cover..."

Walt held the door open and lead her into the house shaking his head. "Actually I had something else in mind." He lead her over to a box. Inside was a familiar looking harness setup with some different but similar types of gear. "I don't want you fighting with the stuff. Infact if the worst case scenario happens and someone sneaks a Titan or something like that in here you let me or Friday handle it if you can. That is an order. But these should keep you safe out there and give you back your "wings"."

He pointed out upgrades and improvements on the original ODM gear and Anti-Personnel omni-directional mobility gear. "In effect it's faster, stronger and lighter. The weapons systems are interchangeable and sharper, more acurate and durable as well as versatile. It comes with spine protection and optional headgear. And you won't have to worry about fuel canisters. Best of all it's got some smart capabilities that link to Friday so it won't work for someone else. If you like it, we'll have to fit and modify it to your exact needs and specs but, it should be completely usable as is. Assuming you want it, that is."

Sasha stares with her mouth open. Did she want this? "I don't have to fight with it if I take it?"

Walt shakes his head emphatically. "Not if you don't want to. Infact I'd prefer you never have to fight again and live your days in peace, my friend. Consider it a test piece."

Sasha heard he meant his word. She reaches out and touches the gear. "And I can just have this?"

Walt nods. "It's a gift from me, to you. No catch... There is one tiny string though, if I'm being honest..."

Sasha looks up at him. "What's that?"

Walt pointed at a second box. "It seemed like a lot of fun so I made a second 3S Improved ODM System!"

Sasha caught his meaning and laughed. She hugged him! "Ok! Together! That does sound fun! Thank you, Walt!"

He hugged her grinning. "You're very welcome Sasha!"

They finished making breakfast and Ilulu ate the leftover flames which she said were delicious. Everyone attended though some like Mystique ate quickly and left.

After breakfast Sasha made an announcement about the shrine and it turned out a lot of people wanted to help! Senko blushed but smiled as the majority of people volunteered to help work on it! Most didn't have much construction experience but considering how simply Walt and Friday had made the pieces to Senko's specifications it was easy and the rest either transported materials or helped in other ways.

Since Walt had already done most of the hardest parts it went up in a flash and so did the two much smaller ones as well. They still had to wait on the statues and other pieces that Walter had commissioned from artists but they were mostly complete now.

Sasha had a blast with her new 3S IODMS! She was surprised by just how much extra power it had! And with a connection to Friday and access to her systems and a scouter mk32 it was almost too intuitive and easy to use. She even pulled off a few stunt moves that only Mikasa and Levi had been able to do! Walt seemed to be having with it too!

Senko hugged and thanked everyone who had helped and made them snacks and tea. She hugged Walter too. "You are the one who made this possible! You helped me and the others out of a bad situation. Welcomed us into your home and treated us with care. You appreciate us all and go out of your way to make those around you happy. You even came up with this idea just to make me feel more at home! You're a wonderful young man and I want you to know how happy you make us! Thank you!"

Walt gently stroked her head and ears making her smile. "You're very welcome Senko. You and everyone else make me very happy too! I know let's have a celebration when when everything's been completed!"

Everyone thought that was a good idea!

Sasha talked with Tsuyu about the patrol idea and she seemed to also like that idea. "I like the idea that I could out doing something useful! Ribbit."

Sienna talked with Pirotess about the idea. She said she'd need time to think on it and still hadn't given up on the idea if leaving yet.

Even Ilulu had helped though she stated she was a member of "chaos". She was looking at the gates. "What's the purpose of these things?"

"They have other cultural and spiritual significance but apparently Senko can also create travel points linking them with any other fox shrines that are open to her," Raven explained.

"Oh yeah?" Ilulu asked. "Like portals?"

Walt nodded. "Yeah, that's one way of looking at it. We'll put the two smaller ones by the house and a special designated area at the base."

Ilulu nodded. "Like this?" She opened up a portal to the house. "I don't do it as often, I'm not as good at it as Tohru is, but I can make portals too!"

Walt realized how much easier that would have been transporting the materials they just used. He patted Ilulu on the head while he resolved to look further into the powers of the Dragon Maid franchise this week. "Do you want a shrine too, Ilulu?" He was pretty sure what her answer would be.

"Not really. Never had one before... I like food and play better!" She said.

Walt gave her hugs and head pats. "Done! Just don't go opening portals without permission okay? People get funny about that stuff. I promise to take you somewhere to play soon, ok?"

"You mean I can cut loose and maybe break some things? Yay! I'll be looking forward to it! I promise to be good until then!" She said excitedly.

Walt had the feeling he'd need to reserve one of the 3S battlefield training areas as he patted the little avatar of destructions head.

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Raven Manami Aiba also with Tsuyu Asui Haruhime Sanjouno The Baroness Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress and Serana

Will Return In

Settle Up Pt 3

Coming Soon]