Chapter 50: Expectations

As I walked out of the kitchen I saw Jordan and the Merits all eating breakfast together, their hashes, donuts and drinks in various states of consumption. Tok and Roy glanced over in surprise at my entrance from the swinging doors, Jordan and Feathers looking to be intensely conversing on some subject and Muto’s eyes were closed while taking a massive bite from a donut.

I waved and smiled, sitting on the bench next to the donut focused Muto. “Ready whenever you all are. Guildhall first, right?” Amusingly Muto responded first while chewing on a huge mouthful of food, eyes opening slightly to a half closed state in what I could only guess was sugared bliss, but nodding in agreement.

Tok spoke up, filling in while his teammate continued to chew, “Yup Senpai. Got to trigger the Ways passes, and last minute check with the guild to make sure there aren’t any warnings out for the route or anywhere too near the way we’re going.”

Mustache nodded in agreement. “Standard procedure, and Jordan’s travel cart is secured there as well. We can do all the introductions and expectations once we’re all finished with eating, but thanks for joining us early. Ann said you already ate, right?” I nodded and he smiled before taking another bite of his veggie hash, chunks of mushroom visible amidst the crispy grilled and baked peppers and potatoes.

On the other side of the table Jordan looked over at me and nodded. “Still good for acting as a porter I hope, Monday March?”

“Standard pay for unskilled work in Big Bay is about a dollar an hour, you said?”

“Average, rather than standard. Anything like moving something that size and weight,” Two strong looking fingers on her left hand pointed over at a tarp wrapped cylinder with straps on it, “would easily be 7 or 8 brass an hour, but I’m happy to go a dollar an hour as we’re going to be outside walls.”

Thinking about some of the talk I’d had with Wanda, and that none of the Merits seemed like it was an out of line offer, I was about to simply agree to the deal when I had another idea. “You're a System User, but not Guild affiliated, right?” The redhead nodded, looking a little guarded. “I’m as well, but I’d like to ask some questions that are answered without Guild filtering or… propaganda.”

“What kind of questions?”

“Some basic, and maybe some not, but I don’t even really know. The Merits know, but I’m a reborn, and my memory fragments don’t seem to have any System information, so…”

Jordan’s eyes softened for a tiny moment. “Oh, you poor thing. Fine fine. While you are expected to carry, you are not being paid to protect. We need to run, you drop it and run. Understood?” I shrugged and nodded. “Your tanner friend had a few items worth bringing back, so thank you for the introduction, Monday March. I’ll field your questions while we’re on the road, but won’t answer everything. Now I use the Merchant Interface rather than Adventuring and killing for the most part, I may not have all your answers.”

A quirk of a smile played at the corner of my lips. “Okay. What’s Big Bay like, Jordan? I’m heading to the Grindstone, but don’t know much about the area.”

The red haired woman laughed, like it was yanked from somewhere inside. “Grindstone isn’t in Big Bay, Monday March. Grindstone is in the bay, and you can get there without setting foot in Big Bay. I’d suggest as much unless you’ve reason to enter.”

Pondering her words I was about to ask Jordan for clarification when Mustache, I mean Roy, clapped his hands.

“All Fed?” The brown skinned leader of the Merits with the tidy mustache looked at his team, Jordan and I. “Good time to do introductions and expectations. “I’m Roy, leader of the Merits. He / Him, Mage, tactics caller, and if pressed, medic.” Looking over at Feathers he nodded.

“Jazmine, She / Her. Scout, archer and voice of reason.” I could see that she was both proud and a hint of grudging in her introduction.

“Tok… Muto… He / They /Him / Them.” Speaking in tandem for all four examples of their pronouns. “Vanguards and melee attackers… men about town… comic relief… subordinates extraordinaire!” The scruffies spoke in their usual tandem, and really encouraged me to tease them with their extreme goofiness. “Also, we be boys… but cool to they / them when talking about both of us.” And in unison they raised their thumbs and smiled. This might have carried a tiny morsel of gravitas if Muto didn’t have powdered sugar dusting his lips.

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“Monday March, please call me Monday for the duration of our travels, and after for you two.” I said, glaring at the two men who seemed to love their own odd nicknames for me. “She / Her, paid escortee and porter. I’ll listen and try to act as directed, but will likely have a bunch of questions for anyone not too busy with our safety and willing to field them.”

“Jordan, She / Her, paid escortee,” The redhead seemed amused at my word choice, “and merchant. I’ll defer to leadership, but will make suggestions based on safety and previous experience.

Roy held back for another moment, as if giving Jordan enough time if there was anything else she wanted to say, before speaking again himself. “General guidelines for the group then. Conversation is well and good, but volume should remain quiet enough so as to not be overly distracting. We will indicate if things are too loud. Looking to travel a minimum of 8 hours a day, so we can do the whole route in 2 days. Just speak up if you need a break for some reason.” Roy spent the next 10 minutes going over some basics; watches, breaks, buddy system, and including a comment reinforcing his earlier mention to me about rings, and avoiding… relations on the trip.

“We have 2 tents and will carry the food for all of us. Might be tight, but 3 can use a tent. If you don’t want to squeeze into one, you can bring your own, or sleep outside. If you have specific food needs, speak up now and we can try to accommodate. Any questions?”

The merchant responded. “For the moment, one question and one comment. You didn’t mention anything about intoxicants. I enjoy a single drink after the evening meal, and I bring my own. Is there a problem with that?”

With a nod, Roy clarified. “Thanks for checking. The Merits won’t partake on the road or a job, but you may. I respect that you know your limits, but will not tolerate putting any of us, including Monday, in danger. Agreed?”

With a tight smile Jordan agreed and pulled out a small envelope, pushing it across the table to Roy. “Speaking of danger, anything really bad happens, instructions are in here.”

That raised a question for me. “Is that common? I mean…”

“Monday, travel’s dangerous. If you want anything specific done, best to let people you are traveling with know.” Jordan pointed at the envelope in front of Roy. “I just happen to travel enough that I use that rather than talk it through each time. Default is to go to the Guild with a report of what happened, at least for Syssies.”

‘A bit sad to think about.’ “Roy, if I think of anything beyond that, I’ll let you know. And for now I don’t think I have any questions related to the rules and what you all expect.”

With a nod, Roy called an end to question time. “Let’s pack up folks. Monday, Jordan, do either of you need more than 30 minutes to be ready and at the Guildhall?”

“That’s fine for me. I’ll just say my goodbye’s here and then head that way.”

Jordan just shook her head, indicating she would be ready and in place at the appropriate time.

Just as we were all standing up, the doors to the kitchen swung open with Billie, Buckle and Ann walking through and walking up to me. Ann held a small sack and Buckle was holding onto his axe with a leather cover over the blade.

Buckle grinned, revealing his pointy teeth. “Ye saved us with it, I’d like ye to ‘ave it. Another bit a thanks afore ye go. Okay Monday March?” He asked as he held out the axe handle towards me.

I nodded, accepting the axe and felt a fleeting wave of emotion almost manage to provoke another tear. “Thanks, Buckle”

Ann crooked her finger at me, so I bowed my head close to her as she made a quick wicked grin and kissed my cheek when it was low enough for her to do so. “Thanks again for helping Dorkus out, and me. And here’s a few snacks for the road.” The silver haired Innkeeper said in her nerve jangling voice as she placed the small bag into my empty hand, and stepped back.

Ann may have been in danger if Billie possessed a magic for shooting daggers from her eyes, the way my friend was glaring at the woman. Then a concern for my own health cropped up when her blue eyes shifted to me. At least they softened almost immediately, but I could see a hint of a blush creep into Billie’s cheeks showing there was still plenty of emotion at play.

“Wouldn’t worry about it, Billie. Pretty sure she was just trying to tease us all.”

“Us all?” she sounded unsure.

Simply glancing back at the Merits confirmed a part of my guess, seeing slack jawed scruffies and startled Jazmine. Buckle snorted and I heard a whisper likely only intended for me from Ann, informing me that I was ‘No fun at all’.

Meeting those blue eyes again I wasn’t certain if I was making a poor choice, however it felt right, even if Friday was encouraging me for no reason I could place in the moment. “Would you like a farewell kiss before I travel, Billie?” Gently setting the items I’d been handed on the table, I stepped closer to the baker, ‘at least we’d decided I was mature enough for her to not feel bad about the kisses last night.’

About 2 seconds passed before she made a slight nod and I widened my eyes a bit, still waiting. “Yes, you meanie,” Billie whispered.

Leaning down I brushed my fingers into her dark hair as I moved closer to her face, letting my lips meet her upturned mouth. We shared a kiss that touched on our practice from the evening, but felt urgent, rather than playful. Though it likely lasted less than a minute, it certainly felt longer to me. And like it was over in an instant.

I had no desire to ask Friday for clarification.