“Lucy, Magpie, here's to you. Good job.” The entire table raising their mugs at Daniel's toast, giving us smiles and nods and echoes of good job.

Basking in the well earned praise and raising our mugs in return.

“It wouldn't have been possible without all you guys. You earned it.”

We were sitting at a long square table in a proper restaurant. A really nice restaurant, with tablecloths and everything. Maybe they'd gotten tired of the ambiance where we've been staying, or maybe they felt the sudden windfall called for a more upscale meal. Either way, a welcome change of pace.

“But what in the hell did you get up to today?” Daniel says. “Coming in like that. You may have pulled it off, whatever it was, but it was totally irresponsible. You should've asked for help.”

Wait, are we getting chewed out? And in front of everybody, nonetheless. Trying to come up with a response that isn't complete venom.

“But we did get it done,” says Magpie. “What's the problem?”

“Grace, honey,” Anderson cuts in, “you can't just go running off half cocked in a strange city.”

“Don't patronize me, Hugh. You're not my fucking dad.”

“Mags, take it easy.”

“Bee,” pointing her finger at him, “you stay out of this.”

“I'm trying to look out for you,” Anderson tries to explain.

“Quiet.” Daniel hitting his hand on the table several times to call for silence. “Tell me what happened today. I want to hear it. There might be some future consequences we need to know about.”

Glancing at Magpie. Should we tell them? A slight tilt of her head. Eyes rolling up and away.

“So me and Magpie went over to-”

“Wait, stop,” says Anderson. “Hold on. I just noticed. Why is everyone calling her Magpie, now?”

“That's her name. Didn't I tell you that? Try and keep up.”

“No.” Anderson shakes his head sternly. “No, that is not her name. I'm going to ask around the table. What's this girl's name?”

Pointing at me. “Magpie.” Of course.

Pointing at Greene. “Uh...”

Pointing at Serena. “Magpie.” A flash of surprise.

Glancing over at Daniel. “Magpie.” Getting a little more concerned.

Looking at Blindside, but then deciding to skip him. No one else at the table deciding to volunteer anything.

“I'm not calling you that,” he declares. Magpie gives an unconcerned shrug. The man addressing me. “I don't suppose you've got any pet names you'd like us to call you?”

Everyone's eyes on me.

“Mac,” Magpie says, after a moment, earning a quizzical glance from Blindside.

“I've got no objection to that.”

“Mac?” Anderson says. “Fine. Whatever. Knock yourself out.”

“Okay, Mac,” Daniel cautiously says, while visibly trying to get his head around it. “No, wait, I'm not calling you that, either. Lucy, what happened.”

“So me and Magpie, we had to go find the buyer for those little stones I've been collecting thanks to all you guys. We went over to the bazaar - total craziness over there, no one telling us nothing - but then we managed to find a guy who knew the guy we were looking for. But then it turned out that guy is working for this other guy now. So then we had to go back across the river to go visit that guy. Armando Urasu.”

“Urasu?” Daniel says, in alarm. “Did you end up getting in a fight with the Urasu family?”

Maybe starting with Urasu wasn't the best choice.

“No, you see-”

“Who's the Urasu family?” Greene asks, deciding to add his color to the conversation.

“The Urasu,” Daniel says, “are the ruling family in this city. You've all seen those symbols outside everywhere, the red dragon's head. That's them, and all the merchants we're escorting are probably doing business with them, in one way or another. Picking a fight with them would be disastrous.” Turning back to me. “Please tell me you didn't.”

“No, nothing like that. Back in Lumeer I've been doing business with this woman who runs this shop called Ink's Charms. I told her I was coming out here and she gave me a letter to give to her brother. I get here and it turns out her brother doesn't have his own shop, and instead he's working for the Urasu family. I don't know about the rest of them, but Armando Urasu, at least, is actually a pretty nice guy. We got a great price on those stones. Hey, uh, when are we planning on getting out of town?”

“Three days from now, when we get back in. Eight in the morning. Why?”

“I've got to go back over there and get a letter that the brother wants to send back to his sister. If we're leaving at eight that should leave plenty of time to pick it up.”

“Wait,” says Daniel, “so that all worked out fine? What happened to you two, then?”

“Yeah, that part went fine, but- wait, you said a bunch of the merchants are doing business with the Urasu. Now that you mention it, we saw some of their merchandise over there. People. Well, not people. Them. Not as slaves, but maybe indentured servants - and the only reason I'd even say they're servants is because he called them merchandise. Otherwise, I'd think they were only paying passage to emigrate.” Fixing Daniel with a level look. “You happen to know anything about that?”

Daniel glancing over at Anderson and the two nonverbally conferring. The waitress coming over with our food and starting to distribute it. The conversation hitting a bit of a lull as we begin to eat.

“No,” Daniel finally says, “I didn't know anything about that.” His poker face sucks: he doesn't appear to be lying. “I'll talk to some of the merchants and see what they're doing. How many of them were there?”

“Maybe fifteen, twenty. Seemed strange.”

“That is not usually the type of merchandise we traffic in.” Really giving him a real hard look. Odds are he isn't lying. “How'd you get so messy, then?”

“We were coming back from Urasu's with this fat bank note in hand, so we head over to the bank to cash it - the tough part of the job complete, or so we figured. We get up to the teller and hand her the note. Well, there's the fee for cashing the note and a couple fines, you know, the usual, but after dealing with that we figure we'll be on our way.”

“You had fines? Plural? We've only been here a single night and today, what kind of fines did you manage to get in such a short amount of time?”

“Two counts of assault, nothing major. So, anyway-”

“What? That's-” The man deciding to stop his lecture before it got started.

“Like I said, nothing major. So, anyway, get this, they have us sitting in the bank waiting for the money for almost twenty minutes. You should've seen this teller, she had this look on her face like she knew something we didn't. So we finally get the money after hurrying her along, and I tell that smug fucking bitch that if anything happens to us she's going to hear about it. Wiped that look right off her face.”

“You threatened the teller?” Daniel simply beginning to taking it in stride.

“Those tellers steal so much money that threat was way overdue. Anyway, we get ready for stuff to go south as soon as we get outside and, sure enough, it does. There's a couple of them out there, so we book it. We managed to get back over to this side of the river, and then we decided to sneak on back through the sewers. And that's what happened.”

The man sitting back and considering. “I don't suppose you made good on your threat since then.”

Is that really your question? You think all those things over in Lumeer are polite because it's in their nature? Nah, not all of 'em. That ain't how things work.

“Had to. We just let her know we were upset and told her to tell her friends what might happen. I find that a little bit of respect on both sides goes a long way. Speaking of which, I appreciate you're responsible for keeping things running smooth on this trip, but the next time you feel like doing something like this, do me the courtesy of doing it in private.”

Considering my complaint while chewing a bite of his meal.

“In another instance, maybe, but in this one, no. This was a matter that potentially concerned all of us and I feel it deserved a public hearing.”

Nodding my head while considering his words.

“I think you overreacted, but are you satisfied with my explanation?”

“Yes, but you should've gotten some help.”

***

“Fucking Daniel, fucking ingrate.”

“Don't worry about that,” Magpie says. “What do you feel like doing tonight?”

Sitting in our room, chilling out on the couch, our shoeless feet up on the bed.

“I don't know. Nothing. That dinner left a bad taste in my mouth. But don't worry about me, and don't let some stupid fifteen feet rule spoil your night. If any of them care enough to give you shit, tell them I'm in the can. If they persist, I'll help them get their head straight later.”

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Alright,” she says, “but aside from nothing, what are you going to be doing tonight?”

“I'll probably stay in here and smoke some of this,” pulling out the recently purchased tin of sweet smelling resin, “and contemplate my place in existence. And be temporarily happy while doing it.”

“That doesn't sound like a bad night. Mind if I join for a bit?”

“You are most certainly more than welcome. In that case, let me get more comfortable.”

Undoing the spider's silk tying the end and loosening my braid. Getting my comb and starting my nightly routine. Fifty strokes

“That looks like a real hassle to deal with,” she says.

“It's got its moments. I've thought about cutting it shorter, but I also really like it. I'll take the bad with the good.” Finishing it out. “That's probably enough, let me get the pipe.” Digging through my pack and finding something else. “Oh, shit, I totally forgot. We've got to do something else first.” Getting out Wolfe's gift. “This is pretty easy to use. Hold it in your hand and concentrate on it, and you'll see what I mean. And then not too much, don't get crazy, it's not going to hit you until like ten seconds later. I figure a little bit of this and a little bit of that'll be a nice combination. But you've got to do it first because I'm going to try and charge it right after. And I've never done that before so I'm not sure what's going to happen.”

“What do you think could happen?”

“I don't know. When I first did that duplicate trick I was worried it was going to explode, like the pieces get real slippery and I was worried that I'd lose my grip and they'd snap back together. I've gotten used to it, but it's still a concern. I have to be careful every time I do it.”

Magpie's face falling. “Explode? How many times have you done that while sitting next to me?”

“More than a couple, which is why I think we'll be fine doing this, but still I don't know what it's like. Hopefully simple, but I'm not going to push my luck too hard.”

“Do it on the other side of the room,” she says, “But let me see.”

Handing it over, and the girl grabbing it with both hands and concentrating.

“Oh, that's- okay, just a touch,” she says. Both of us waiting, and then her expression changing. “That's interesting.” Standing up on one foot. “I'm not quite drunk, but that's a good amount.” Putting her arms out, as well. “Instant drunkenness hitting you is weird, usually it creeps.” Starting to giggle. “That's a really cool gift.” Plopping down on the couch and putting her feet back up.

“I'll do it over here.”

Sitting cross-legged on the floor near the door. Not a big room, maybe six feet away from Magpie curiously watching from the couch. The girl not even remotely concerned.

Putting both my hands on the item. Infuse. Putting the mana into the item like any other rune. Okay, there, done. Now what. Tapping it. No. Shaking it. Can sort of feel fullness, like a liquid inside. Very full still, about ninety percent, by volume. Probably just need to feed it more mana. Starting to feed a trickle, but finding it hard to stop. Becoming a siphon, pulling it out of me. Trying to sever the connection, but the siphon suddenly stopping on its own. Shaking the figurine again. It's full.

Giving Magpie a thumbs up. “We're good.”

“Nothing happened,” she says, clearly disappointed.

“That's a good thing.” Alright, take just a bit from this. “Let me get the pipe.”

Starting to dig through my pack and then the sensation hitting. “Yeah, that is weird.”

“Told you.”

Getting the pipe and the half full box of matches. Getting some tobacco and putting it in the bowl, and then a small bit of the sweet resin on top. Well, maybe a bit more than that. Putting a bit more.

Sparking it up and taking a hit. Then another. Passing it to Magpie. Back and forth. All the bad thoughts getting chased away. Starting to get giggly, hitting the pipe, passing it back. Magpie with her hand over her mouth, laughing, and then taking her turn. Taking it back. Giggling. Magpie giggling back. Each of us laughing at the other laughing. Pipe finished. Reclining on the couch, eyes closed and feet up on the bed. Full of warmth and good fuzzies.

“Lucy,” Magpie says. Opening my eyes and glancing over. A lazy grin on her face. “In your bullshit story tonight you totally skipped over the best part.”

“What part are you talking about? I'm not sure if I remember. I mentioned how we got the money, and then I mentioned got back.” My lazy grin answering hers.

“I think something else might've happened somewhere in there.”

“Yeah, but I don't know if they need to know. Ever since Serena said I'm in a little box,” making a little box with my hands, “I figure sharing details like that with people who aren't being entirety straight with me is wasted effort. Fuck 'em. We know what happened.”

Giggling overtaking her. “I think you're just upset because your little box isn't getting any attention.”

“That's-” Giggling along with her. “Well, yeah! This whole trip has thrown me for a loop. I came in expecting, I don't know what, and then I hear about that stupid rule bullshit, and then walking in on them today. It's wild. You, at least, have been a point of sanity. What I saw is exactly what I got.”

“Happy to be of service.” Magpie devolves into more giggles. “This trip has been the opposite for me. I haven't had this much fun since-” getting a crafty look, and deliberately bringing up her hand to stroke her chin, making me crack up. “I know we were pretty drunk the other night, but what'd you mean saying that you're Mac.”

“I am Mac. Don't you believe me?”

“Fuck no,” she laughs. “I don't know. You've said some shit, you've done some shit, but sorry, not convinced. Bridge too far.”

“Don't worry about it, you'll come around.” Busting out laughing.

“Okay,” she says, trying to look serious, trying to hold it in, “we'll see. I'm going to start calling you Mac, as an advance, and you can keep working on convincing me, because those are some big shoes you're trying to step in.”

“Deal.” Reaching out my hand. Her taking it, and then us cracking up. “When we get back from this you're going to start coming out with me. I'll manage to convince you a hundred percent. What's your schedule?”

“I'm off two, three and four.” Her smile fading just a bit. Realizing now. There go your lazy days. Gone.

“Great, I've got two, four and five, plenty of-”

Some knocks at the door interrupting our conversation. Now who could that be?

Bouncing off the couch, cracking my neck side to side and grabbing my knife. Not brandishing it, just, you know, holding it. Magpie putting a hand over her mouth, unsuccessfully trying to hold in her laughter. Opening the door a bit to peek out. Daniel and Anderson. Opening the door the entire way and tossing the knife onto the bed.

“Oh, hey, it's you guys, what's up?” Big grin on my face. Magpie's ear to ear.

The two men taking in the scene, the pipe on the arm of the couch and the sweet smell in the air. Daniel's eyes returning to me. That's a nice look. Don't think he's seen me with my hair down yet.

“Mind if we come in?” he asks.

“Yeah, tons of room, c'mon in.”

The two men squeezing into the small room. Anderson taking a seat on the couch and Magpie instantly snuggling with him, Daniel sitting on the bed next to me. Tempting, so tempting, but keeping my hands to myself.

“We went and talked to those merchants,” Daniel says, “about that merchandise you said they were going to be bringing.”

“What line did they feed you?”

“It was exactly what you said, they're being sold as indentured servants for a couple years to pay for their passage over. They even tried to see if we'd be interested in taking a couple for the House, to help in the kitchen and with janitorial.”

Roy had accused me of being a spy. And now these jabbering things are going to get embedded into everywhere. And no one will think twice.

“I hope you didn't.” A grin coming on despite myself.

“Coming all the way over to Lumeer with little more than the clothing on their backs? They're asking a fair price and, besides, we'd be helping them out.”

A giggling fit taking over. Putting my hands over my face while trying unsuccessfully to stop it. Daniel wrapping his arms around me.

“Hugh,” Daniel says. “I'd need to talk to Lucy in private. I'll see you in a couple days when we get back.”

Neither Anderson nor Magpie, the girl practically hanging off his arm, sharing any complaints. Heading out the door.

“Hey Mac,” she says, with a wink on her way out, “lotsa luck tonight.” Door closing.

Leaning against Daniel and the giggling fit subsiding. Looking up at him.

“Serena spoke with me,” he says, “and she made me realize I'm not taking your feelings into consideration. I want you to know I appreciate what you did for all of us, and for putting up with my questions at dinner.” Pulling me against him.

“What makes you think I'm going to let you do whatever you want?”

“Feel free to try and stop me at any time.” Leaning down and pressing his lips against mine. Giving in and hungrily pressing back. Opening his mouth and invading with his tongue, then devouring mine. His hands unbuttoning my shirt, stopping to tweak my nipples, my sounds lost in his mouth, and then pulling it off. Small currents of electricity running through me. His off too, interrupting the kiss, and then my tanktop coming off. Pushing me back onto the bed, his hand forcibly pressing down. Unbuckling my own belt, pants off, then panties. Totally nude. The first man to see.

Leaning down and resuming his kiss, one hand on my breast and the other on my stomach, heading down. His thick, strong fingers, insistent, running over my slit. Starting me up, one digit probing, gently slipping in. Soft motions, getting rougher. Moaning into his mouth, giving sharper cries each time he pinches a nipple. A second digit joining the first, his fingers so thick, my sounds filling the room. Blindly reaching out, looking to return the favor, but his pants still. Daniel pulling back, breaking the kiss, the hand pinching my nipple holding me down, his other relentless on my pussy.

“This is only for you tonight,” he explains. “You can thank me after we get back to town.”

An annoyed growl coming from my throat, between gasps. Reaching out my hand out to him again, and the man pulling his soaked fingers from me, making my annoyance spike.

“You be a good girl for me and you'll get a reward,” he says. “Or I can walk out that door and leave you like this. Are you going to be good?”

“I- I'll be good.”

“What are you going to be?” His fingers starting to toy again.

“I'll be your good girl.”

“That's good. This is what good girls get.” Daniel's fingers plunging in again hard, his palm on my button, causing my eyes to roll back, pulling a sound from my depths. Turning to putty in his hands. His skilled fingers relentless, bringing me to my peak. A couple times later, basking in the afterglow. Daniel removing his pants, taking my hand and placing it on his full member.

“Tell me what you want.” The man commanding me to answer, as he starts to play with my sodden opening.

“I, I want,” feeling huge in my small hand, “I want you to feel as happy as you made me.”

The devilish glint in his eye fading and the arrogant smirk softening. “Under everything, you're really just a sweetheart, aren't you?” Removing his hand from my chest and gently caressing my face.

“I'll try to be.”

Sitting up and taking my prize in both hands. Starting my ministrations, sheathing and unsheathing the head. The motion hypnotic, the smell intoxicating, a bead of liquid pooling at the tip. His manhood complete. Unbetrayed, unassaulted, unscarred, undesecrated, unsacrificed.

Pouring my feelings into my work, using both hands and engulfing the head, my tongue making circles under his foreskin. Earning a low groan. Sending my unmistakable message, with every soft touch felt and every bit of pleasure received. Returning some of the electricity he'd sent to me from his fingers, the shocks still running through. My adoration and my gratitude. Losing myself in devotion. The pitch of his groans changing. He's getting close now. Can feel it. Can taste it. Time to be a very good girl. Glancing up, and our eyes connecting. Pulling back prematurely and softly teasing the glistening tip.

“I need you to fuck me.”

Returning to my prayers while keeping my gaze locked on his and receiving the gift of life in several shots. Not the greatest flavor - had been expecting that - but far from the worst. The consistency, on the other hand, mucous or snot. Down the hatch. Completing the after church service: sweeping the floor, cleaning the pew and polishing the candlestick. Restoring the weary missionary so show his fervent devotion and give his offerings at my altar. Hopefully real soon. Maybe take a breather and pack the bowl again so he can experience another level of spirituality.

“You're a very bad girl, aren't you?”

“I'm being extra good for you.” Leaving a trail of kisses.

Forcefully pushing me down onto the bed again. “Bad girls get special treatment.” His mouth merciless on my nipples and his fingers filling my cunt. Moaning, squirming, but powerless to prevent his assault and unable to break free. Some time later, completely exhausted, but also warm and glowing. Excited for the main event. Instead, getting a gentle kiss on the cheek. The man grabbing his clothes and leaving the room.

“Sweet dreams,” he says, on the way out, most likely returning to Serena across the hall.