I placed my hand onto the door hinge - cold as ice and resisting my attempts to move it as a small lamina of frost crept on its metal sheen. I applied more force, placing my weight on it and nearly slipping on the concrete that had turned glass-smooth. I steadied myself, relieved at my safety and the fact no one seemed to notice my blunder as I entered the shop. I closed the door, still not without some difficulty, finally entering and ensuring the entrance was secured to not let the warm indoor air flee.

The moment I did, the humdrum of the winter city was replaced by the slightly fuzzy melodies of festive songs playing on a radio atop the counter - my inner voice humming the well-memorized lyrics as I returned to my seat among the alternating aisles of snacks. I pulled back my chair from the table, placing myself on its soft cushions and stretching on its backrest.

In doing so, I got to see a better view of the space. Rows and rows of convenience foods dotted the shelves, and a dull but harsh fluorescence hovered over us. At the front, a case of bright pink and delectable luncheon meats placed aside crisp and fresh vegetables could be seen. Behind it, a small kitchen of stoves and spice racks stood still as no chef commandeered the station - the hour past noon, meaning the day passed slowly as little traffic passed nor entered.

I straightened my posture again, the aroma of my warm meal now entering my nose - the warm scents tinged with smokiness and sweetness as it invited me to take a bite. I gladly accepted this proposal, taking the fluffy bread into my hands and opening my mouth to have a taste.

"Good to see almost falling over worked up your appetite." A voice suddenly fell on my ears - the tone like a blizzard, nearly making me bite my tongue in surprise.

"Nothing evades those eyes of yours, huh?" I replied, taking a far less enthusiastic nibble of my food, "At least let me have a few trivial joys, Myla." Looking at my aggressor, she quietly enjoyed her meal, covering her mouth as she chewed as if nothing but innocent.

Lengthy monologues aside, as usual, we found ourselves at the Edwards' sandwich bodega to have lunch, albeit a bit later than typical. The outside temperature had dropped quite a bit, marking today as particularly frigid but not snowy - meaning we enjoyed our meals in the comfort of the air-conditioned corners of the humble shop. Our overcoats found themselves draped on our seats, the ambiance indoors admittedly quite comforting and well-appreciated as we took a break from the endless monochrome of the concrete tundra.

But what made today unique was not winter's sudden onset but what its breeze managed to blow into the store, "It's been a while since I stopped by here, right?" A bright voice spoke, young in its inflection and friendly in tone, "I really should visit more often, but what can you do?" Donning an outfit not dissimilar to ours but dyed a commanding black, the executive with a single lock of brown hair happily ate a meal by our table.

"Yep!" Another accent joined, this one light and full of energy, "Now I'm not the only third wheel here." Following her remark was a pleasant chuckle, even if her previous words were anything but.

My partner and I shared a brief sigh, our reactions not far from each other as we did our best to press forward and finish our food.

Chewing his morsel with an expression of worry directed toward the aproned woman, the executive spoke with his mouth still full, "I'm surprised these two let you say that..."

In response, she gave an endearing hmm and a grin above her chin, which sat atop her two hands, "Come on, don't tell me you disagree."

"Well..." But before he could return with an answer, a pair of glares struck him, halting any reply from exiting his now pursed lips.

"Yikes...I expect that much from Myla, but Bridger, you are getting way too good at that." With a new coat of fear painted on his youthful visage, we were satisfied with cutting their heckling short and returned to our sandwiches.

"Thanks," I added, taking a bite.

"You're welcome." My other half accepted, the thanks not meant for her but nonetheless deserved.

I learn from exposure therapy.

"...Right. That aside, what's the plan then?" Alexandre finally asked, setting aside his appetite to begin today's work.

We'd already given a rundown of the situation to our lead - how Gale was trying to maintain his ideal and didn't want to risk change, his desire to keep Fable in a happy bubble causing him to act without considering things - along with everything he told me back in the amusement park.

"Before that, thanks for deciding to drop by. Even without my current predicament, I've wanted to see you again, y'know?" Fable remarked, no food in front of her as she instead got her fill of her new visitor's company.

Taking a quick sip of a canned energy drink whose chemical fragrance reached even me, he replied, "It's been a few months since I last came here with Myla, huh? I hope she's been treating you and Bridger well."

"No promises on the latter." My dear partner interjected, still hiding her mouth's expression, even though the way her eyebrows were raised betrayed any attempts to hide her smirk.

Ah, is this what they call an artificial sweetener?

We invited Alexandre over for more than sentimentality's sake. Having experience dealing with the pair and generally having been a skilled surveyor even before his promotion, we had a good reason to drag our general back into the muddy trenches to help us.

As for the other half of our client, he was busy with classes and couldn't attend. This had the side effect of leaving Fable at the shop as her routine of heading to practice in the afternoon was cut, meaning it was the perfect time to get some brainstorming done.

Even so, I'm surprised Alexandre managed to get some time off just like that. The execs are really a blessed species, huh?

Still, there was no denying we appreciated the assist, "I take it you two are ready for tomorrow then?" The young woman asked, eyeing us with excitement and mischievous intrigue.

Ah, there's where we can begin.

After our little venture through the park, our clientele presented us with another proposal - a night out. It would be at a fine dining spot at the heart of the city with a reservation around eight o'clock. That kind of scenery wasn't foreign to us - but we still seldom found ourselves having appointments in such spots unless it was for a special event or our pair for the day was just loaded.

Whatever the case, despite being another night of overtime and going home to catch five hours of sleep without a change of clothes, it wasn't an unwarranted idea. It was a way for us to meet and discuss the plans moving forward in a relaxed setting without a time limit. From my perspective, it also seemed like Fable's way of apologizing on Gale's behalf and giving the four of us a chance to create another dialogue that would hopefully end better than the last one.

So it's more or less a do-over.

"I understand the basis of the idea. The other executives love calling in a dining meeting from time to time 'cause it tends to create good ideas and lets us communicate them in a relaxed atmosphere." Our lead considered as he finished eating.

"Yeah. Forgive me for being Miss Obvious,"

No, you're the "F" character. We did the "O" character a while ago. Heck, there's three of them!

"But I'd like to avoid a tense atmosphere if possible," Fable noted, an anxious half-smile behind her words.

"We still have a lot to discuss either way. So keep Gale updated and prepared." Matter-of-fact as always, Myla continued with another word of advice.

However, it seems that pragmatic comment made our leader's face curl with anguish, "Look, even if it's been a while if he's acting like this, it's obvious he's not in the best head space. But that doesn't mean he's a bad person, and we can't make it look like that's what we're telling him."

"Yeah, I know. Gale's just a little misguided, but his heart's in the right place." I reassured Alex, but I couldn't speak with confidence as my eyes fell off to the side, "Even so, things can't go on like this." And the reason was that no justifications could completely overlook the issue.

"He doesn't want you to worry over him, but that's just plain unfair for the both of you. If he's struggling, he shouldn't sacrifice himself all for the sake of maintaining some ideal you once had." I explained, trying not to let my emotions cloud my statements.

I still felt a sense of relatability towards Gale and now a strong sympathy for him after our river-bound chat. Part of me wanted to defend him, subconsciously justifying my own mistakes as I did. But I couldn't allow myself that misstep, not just because it's my job, but because I couldn't let anyone else make those same mistakes.

"Exactly. It's a relationship, so bumps in the road aren't just possible - they are downright expected. And sure, you can do your best to avoid them, but you can't just gloss over them when one manages to catch up to you." As fresh-faced as he was, his quick and astute replies proved why he was a rung above us on the food chain - he was an executive who retained all the sharpness of a surveyor.

Fable remained silent during our back and forth, choosing instead to listen intently with a gentle expression that felt like an early arrival of spring - her eyes closed and skin flushed with color.

"If that's the case, we've created quite an irony, haven't we?" A cold voice spoke, drawing our attention as we looked to the silver strings that weaved the words, "Perhaps we did so well in making sure they were happy and well-off that Gale's been pressuring himself to maintain that state ever since and with whatever it would take." And while she tended to be stern and composed, hints of regret tinged her conjecture as her expression remained frozen.

"It's certainly a possibility, but..." I paused, not knowing the best response to her realization as we all sat in a wordless ambiance - only the singsong echoes of the radio filling the space.

No matter how much professionalism we practiced, we were still humans - creatures of emotion by nature. Sentimentalities, doubts, and guilt all weighed heavily on our minds, even if we knew the words that had to be said and the actions that had to be taken. To all of us, Gale was more than just a client, be it a friend or a kindred spirit - his hardships all gave us pause as we wondered how best to approach it - balancing both a delicate hand and a confident stance that could get through to him without making him assume we were chastising him for his mistakes.

Stolen story; please report.

You've caused quite the fuss, huh, bud?

Taking in a breath and swallowing my thoughts in exchange for words to resume the exchange, I began, "In any case, we've gotta do what we can to make him realize our points, and..." But as quickly as I did, I held my tongue in place before speaking an unfortunate truth, "Well, he more or less already knows most of this. He just can't seem to accept it."

"...Yeah, you're right." A mumble came from Fable, yet her earlier silence made the faint words ring clear, "I've wanted to tell him that, but...I just...Don't have the heart to." Her expression became withdrawn, her lips' curves slowly drooping as her demeanor became sullen.

"I just find myself really conflicted about it all. On one hand, I find it incredible that he's doing so much for me- for us. Even on his worst days, I can tell he's doing his best to make me feel loved and cared for." Even though a warmth lined our client's words, a slight tremble accentuated the occasional syllable, "...But I can't accept that when I know he's suffering on his own and is actively distancing me from his problems."

That's what made it unfair. There was no doubt about Gale's effort or love, but what he was attempting was unreasonable. By loving Fable with everything he had but rejecting her pleas to aid him in return, there could be no winner in their exchange - let alone a mutual victory. Gale would burn himself out, trying everything in his power to maintain his status quo, all the while leaving Fable riddled with guilt over being unable and downright prevented from doing anything to keep things from escalating further.

"I want to tell him that- to say that I don't mind sharing in the burden and that it's okay for both of us to be sad here and there if it means we can look forward to being happy together...But I'm afraid...Because that might break him since it's only been my happiness that's kept him from completely falling apart." Continuing with narrowed eyelids that held back tears and were partially shadowed by her brown tresses, her energetic voice dropped multiple octaves as she held her hands close to her chest and took short breaths after each pained sentence.

"Sometimes I wonder if I've been a bad wife - that someone better would've been able to make a decision and fix things by now..." But even through all of the heartache, she suddenly held her head high, looking at us directly with a smile that refused to wither, "That if I can't even be happy for his sake, how useless would I be?"

Yet another silence befell our table, but this time, the white noise drowned out even the muffled singing of the countertop radio. The thought of speaking each crossed our minds, but we each remained tight-lipped. It felt like we arrived late - like the sense of foreboding tension that we were now in an uphill battle became clearer. But it was more than that. It felt familiar. It was as if we'd stumbled into a past memory, one that we've lost countless thoughts to in an attempt to find a solution to - if not in reality but at least the confines of our mind. Something that the three people here, including me, collectively felt resonated.

Ah, I see. It really is a do-over, huh?

A shifting chair could be heard, breaking my thoughts. Upon raising my head, our leader in black now placed himself closer to our client, an expression of reassurance beaming from his visage, "I think that bad people don't even notice that they're doing anything wrong in the first place." Leave it to the youngest one at the table to manage a word - his voice was light yet carried with it an affirmation that rested seamlessly into our busy minds, "The fact that you want to improve and change for the sake of your relationships means a lot - one of them meaning you're far from a bad partner." And with an energy that could warm even the winter haze on the other side of the glass door, the king in black threw his hazel eyes at his two white knights, "Ain't that right, you two?"

With a speech like that, there's no way for us to refuse, is there? Cheeky executive.

Alexandre recentered his seat, clearing his throat and placing his hands on the table with an echoing thud to have us at attention, "Right, with that, we know what to do." In an instant, his demeanor shifted, and his unflinchingly bright voice became authoritative and firm, "You have to explain everything we just discussed to Gale over dinner without scaring him out of the conversation - keep things relaxed and professional, alright?" Our eyes widened as his own narrowed, an eager look on his smooth countenance - one Myla seemed unsurprised by.

I can see what made them a good match before I stepped in. They would've been an even bigger fire and ice duet than us.

Not done yet, he swapped his focus to our client, whose sorrow was washed away by his sudden energy, "As for you, Fable. You have to make sure your words reach him. These two will only be there to support you, and they absolutely will, but it's up to you to make your message clear." And yet, not a drop of gentleness was lost from his resolute words.

"Gotcha." Taking a deep breath and slapping herself awake, the half-smile that adorned her earlier expression gave way to one of confidence that matched our lead, "I have to do this, to show him that I- We can change for the better." And as she caught herself mid-sentence, I could glimpse a silent promise made like a passing gale.

"Speaking of you two," Snapping his gaze to us and nearly jumpscaring me, he gave us a grin that was both playful and decisive in a way only a leader of such charming character could, "I trust you guys already know this, but stay friendly and, under any circumstances, do not talk down or make him feel like the enemy, okay?" We could only nod in response, our mutual assurances not needing words to be communicated.

"And finally..." Alex continued, his voice returning to its earlier pitch, "Make sure to have fun and send me some pictures, will 'ya?" And with a cute little reminder far better suited to his youthful mien than his earlier commanding presence, he saw us off with a smile.

A crisp sea breeze wafted towards our direction as the sight of the evening sun slowly submerged itself into the white crests of the restless tides. Ahead, the scene in front of me was dominated by the clashing sight of white snow overlapping with sea-kissed sand as I tip-toed on the gravel path that barely escaped the reach of the wintry powder. The scent of salt lined the dry air as I enjoyed the sounds of the shoreline ambiance - like a painting made animate. However, like many a famous canvas, the main subject of the piece stood front and center, letting me ride her coattails that danced in the wind. Her silver mane reflected the honeyed hue of the sunset, dancing like a dull flame along with the silken white of her flowing coat. She held her hands together behind her back, long and slender fingers clasped as she silently marched along the path - the dichotomy of the ivory fields and eventide-washed waves orbiting her gait.

I thoroughly enjoyed the scene, finding it hard to become bored of the picturesque sights that my partner regularly evoked, "You're not much a fan of the see, huh?" I asked.

"I don't particularly dislike it. I merely happen to prefer other sceneries." Speaking without glancing back at me, I could still catch a tiny turn of her head as she stared off into the day's end, "But it is quite pleasant." I smiled at her reply, our destination entering my view as a wave - not one by the ocean but one by a hand, welcomed us.

Good to see the siren is happy to see us.

Climbing up the maple steps and entering the not-so-humble abode, I closed the glass door as the sounds of crashing waves muffled, turning my head to the living room where Myla stood beside the ever-beautiful introvert, "Sorry about the bother, Lily, but once again, we're in your care." Livia Linville, or, affectionately, Lily, guided us into her home with an aloof expression on her spotless visage.

She held her hair up in a long ponytail, donning a comfy ensemble of an oversized cotton sweater of light pink and matching wide-cut pants that covered her long limbs but didn't detract a single bit from her splendor in any way - with the adorable addition of bunny-themed flip flops with fluff that I could feel just from seeing them.

Our ex-client shook her head lightly, speaking with a silver voice like strings on a violin, "Perish the thought. This a measly recompense for all of your help."

My partner looked up at her, amber eyes meeting obsidian orbs, "That aside, how have you been, Lily?" She inquired with an icy tone, but her question was far from cold.

"Work and editing have been hectic, but it's manageable." Still not breaking her unmoving mask beneath her black curls, she continued as we walked through the house, "Ah, and the three have formed a habit of inviting me out so..." Concluding prematurely with silence, a smirk appeared on my face as I finished her words for her.

"You've been having fun?" I said almost teasingly, getting her to turn to me and finally let an expression of subtle joy appear on her face.

Upon hearing the pair's request the other day, we had the idea of phoning in a favor from a fashion-conscious friend to help us prep for the outing. Sure, our wardrobes had plenty of suitable outfits, and our office could open a clothing brand with the amount we had in stock, but Lily's eye and selection made the question of quality and quantity easy to answer. Plus, we wanted to catch up, so there was no harm in killing two birds with one stone.

The irony of the statement is not lost on me. In fact, it's hit me so hard that said stone might just have a body count of three now.

We entered the living room - the wooden furniture moved around a bit as a few stacks of coats, slacks, shirts, and everything in between were neatly scattered around the space.

"These are Nash's, right?" I asked, walking around the tables and sofas to pick at the wares, hearing a faint mhm from behind me as I did, "Oh, that, and he'll be coming home in a week or two, right?"

"You'd be correct." His other half assured, leading my partner to a pinewood door near the room's outer edge, "In the meantime, choose a few sets, and we can decide later on what to match. I'll be preparing Myla in the bedroom, so please wait."

"Alright. Take your time." And with a wordless and emotional nod, they entered.

Peas in a pod, those two...

A few minutes passed as I began to flip through the selection of different fabrics, causing my mind to wander to tonight's outing. As always, removing all doubt was impossible, but the amount in my mind was more than what I usually carried when going to an appointment. I mean, why wouldn't it be nerve-wracking? Personal stakes made this already difficult situation all the more delicate, and all I could do was place as much hope as I could muster into myself, my partner, and our clientele. Cutting my thoughts short, the sound of the door creaking made me shift my focus.

Lily peaked from the crack of the doorway, only partially revealing her face - but even then, I could tell something was different, "Oh? Are you two done already?"

"Not quite." It was a grin and quite an apparent one, "I just wanted your thoughts on..." And while her blatant expression was already peculiar, what exited the fully open door took my full attention without fail.

Exiting the door was a canvas-worthy centerpiece made animate. Sharp amber irises found themselves gently placed on a pale backdrop and beneath long and delicate eyelashes, glasses removed as the slight sheen of contact lenses became visible. Her fair-toned skin was warmer than usual, and the contours of her face were accentuated in a way I could describe no better than simply saying they were pleasing to the eyes - highlights of a rosy blush painted on her soft cheeks. Despite all of these glittering descriptives, the trait that made my heart nearly skip a few beats was her sterling crown. The silk-like strands were styled in a hypnotic wave-like pattern, the layered tresses flowing like streams of a mercury river that glistened like fine jewelry - somehow looking as soft as cotton and as reflective as silver.

I already knew Myla carried an allure unique to her - but one clouded by my familiarity with experiencing said charms regularly. However, no matter how subtle some of the changes or how minute the movements that she made were, it all encompassed a picture that stole my complete focus with no more than a glance.

"...Well? How is it?" Lily was the one to speak as both of her visitors remained silently staring at one another.

"Oh?" I finally snapped out of my stupor, stammering a reply, "Yeah, good- you did well. Good done, well work." My flustered mind strung together what words it could as my face up to my ears turned warm.

Myla's face contorted with annoyance, closing her eyes and exhaling a sigh, "Perfect. Now I'm twice as self-conscious." She lamented with a hand to her forehead - the sight changing from captivating to humorous with no moment to spare.

I held back my laughter, composing myself and untangling my words before condensing the earlier cavalcade of thoughts into a simple but genuine message, "It looks great, Myla. I told you it'd fit." As if we swapped expressions, her face was the one that turned into surprise upon hearing my praise.

She stepped back, her countenance softening as her lips parted to speak, "...Thank you."

Lily watched the practically sitcom-worthy interaction before her with a tilted head, intrigued before a realization struck her, "I see. So that's why you asked me to prepare so many hair produ-"

"Come on, Lily, we have to finish quickly and look for clothes." Pulling the model back with no hesitation and shutting the door in a single second, the pair disappeared from my sight, leaving me with a tensed heart rate and a mind aflutter.