Kate bounced on her toes.
Up and down, up, down, up… over and over again. Her entire body felt amazingly light and controlled. On a bounce up she halted her momentum instantaneously and pivoted an inch before reversing, then back to finish the up before resuming the down and up once more and she loved it! Her latest Mark added so much that she just wished she had gotten it months earlier in Bath instead of being forced to wait because of–ugh–events.
Whatever, she thought.
If those events ever replayed themselves, they would find her prepared to dole out an immense amount of carnage and glory.
Just thinking about it got her blood pumping and eyeing those nearest her to see if they could pose an immediate challenge. Unfortunately, not. Both because they were all weaklings, and also because she would probably get yelled at. And also, it would probably ruin her appetite for later that night.
it was just… waiting was hard! So, so boring!
She groaned and deflated against the wooden panels, glancing across the tavern with impatient disinterest.
She had been waiting for what felt like hours.
This had been a long time coming, with some uncharacteristic planning on her part, but finally it was here. There were no classes the next day, she had made sure that both of their schedules were cleared, which meant that Kate had to ask that one lady which was surprisingly intimidating for being so old and fat.
Despite these challenges in setting everything up, Kate had persevered! Everything for the sake of conquest.
But then when the hour finally came, when Kate had swung by in the late afternoon to grab Jackie, Kate learned that Jackie was ‘indisposed.’
What in the godslicking name did that even mean?!
Just thinking about it left Kate itching for a rumble, even more than was usual.
After what felt like forever, but what might have actually only been fifteen minutes, there was movement. And the movement was not from another worthless day-drinking lout or some dumb kid.
No, the movement came from a short blue haired girl returning to the tavern floor from the back service entrance, the one the workers here used to scurry about away from the public eye.
Disappointingly, Jackie was not accompanying the blue haired tike down.
Kate met eyes with the other girl.
The other girl winced apologetically.
Kate squinted, hand itching for the hilt of her trusted bastard of a blade.
The other girl’s eyes widened in shock, and she rushed towards Kate, dodging several grabby and gross old men to do so.
“Well?” Kate asked as the other girl, Kate thought she was named Mari-something-or-other, came within an easy speaking condition.
“She’s… Ah, well, she’s still–”
“Where’s she at?” Kate demanded, making a show of looking around the Mari-girl as though to look behind her, even though Kate stood tall enough to peer over Mari’s head.
“She’s–ah… getting ready?” Mari said, blushing and averting her gaze.
The failure to make eye-contact implied weakness. Possibly deceit. If Mari’s hands were twitching towards something out of sight, then Kate would have intervened bodily. However, Mari’s hands remained in plain sight. It was probably nothing, just embarrassment, Kate decided.
Which brought another concern to the forefront of Kate’s mind.
“Why aren’t you sure of your answer?” Kate demanded more than asked.
“It’s just…” Mari trailed off, shuffling her feet. Kate’s glare hastened the eventual response, if belatedly. “She was still sleeping when I went to get her,” Mari finished.
Kate’s frown deepened as she thought about it. She had known of course that Jackie enjoyed sleeping in, and that Jackie worked later hours than just about anyone else Kate knew… but to still be sleeping? It was approaching evening hours. The fact Jackie was still sleeping was suspicious. Either something was wrong, or something was wrong, Kate decided.
“Jackie’s not sick, yeah?” Kate asked.
“No?” Mari said, before correcting herself and firming her spine some. “I mean, I don’t think so. She seemed hale. Just, tired, I guess? Or…”
“Or?” Kate repeated.
“I think maybe Jackie just wanted to be all rested up proper for whatever you’ve planned for tonight?”
Kate liked the sound of that. It made sense. Jackie would want to be rested for what Kate had planned. It still seemed dumb to be sleeping so late, but maybe it was somewhat reasonable. Reasonable enough that Kate could let it slide. That was, assuming Jackie made her way down sooner rather than later.
If Kate had to go upstairs to get her, there was no guarantee that they would be coming back down anytime soon, and they might miss the festivities as a result.
Without realizing it, Kate cracked her knuckles one by one as she thought.
“By the way,” Mari said, interrupting Kate’s thoughts, “Just what are you planning for the evening?”
Why was the girl prying up into Kate’s business?
“Why you asking?” Kate demanded with a sudden suspicion.
“Ah… just… well you know, curiosity, I guess.”
Kate scoffed, dismissing the girl from her mind. If Mari wanted to know, “Then you’ll have to ask Jackie when she gets her sweet–” Kate started but cut herself off when she saw the familiar lilac breach the very same service entrance that Mari had entered through moments earlier.
Of course, there was only one person Kate had ever met with lilac hair. Well, two, if animals counted. But they did not. Kate was specifically not thinking about that particular indiscretion. She had never been so sore in her life after Kate’s mother found out about that ‘perversion.’
Kate shuddered and shoved all of that into a small and cramped corner in the back of her mind, instead turning her attention to an acceptable target.
“-Finally!” Kate shouted, earning the ire of several tavern residents, all of which Kate naturally ignored. “Where in the godsloving-time’ve you been?! I have… I have half a…”
Kate started to trail off on her chastisement as she met Jackie’s cyan eyes and almost grew mesmerized then and there. Nobody else she knew had such bright eyes, especially not that color. And her hair seemed so silky and bouncy and exotic that Kate could only ever barely resist running her calloused fingers through it. But resisted Kate did, for her willpower was immense, or so she was told.
Finally, Kate and Jackie met, nearer the front than the back of the tavern floor.
Not too far away from them, there were two overly loud men playing some form of drinking game that Kate would have to remember for later.
But then Kate re-focused on Jackie, and Jackie was focused upon Kate, tilting her beautiful head to the side ever so slightly. That porcelain mask of a face was betraying nothing, and Kate loved it! It was perfect! Alabaster! Or… or something like that, Kate decided. No matter what she called it, Jackie was looking fine.
It was then that Jackie’s sharp cheeks colored just slightly, almost imperceptible, were it not for Kate’s enhanced senses. But there it was!
A blush! Jackie was blushing because of Kate! Surely, that was a good sign. It had to be.
Kate smiled radiantly.
“Sir Gaurdson,” Jackie started far too formally for Kate’s own taste. “I had not realized we had an engagement this evening, otherwise I would not have been so uncouth to allow you to languish as you awaited. My sincerest apologies,” Jackie finished with a slight bow.
This girl! Kate had heard others with silver tongues like that before, and they were either high end courtiers or were adjacent in some way to the aristocracy. Given Jackie’s everything, Kate assumed the girl had either run-away or was otherwise a disowned daughter. Especially since the girl was working in a tavern.
“Yeah…” Kate said, belatedly, after Jackie had been waiting several long seconds. “That was maybe on me?” Kate asked, pausing to think, before continuing, “though I coulda sworn I mentioned it.”
“Perhaps you did,” Jackie said graciously. “My own recollections are hardly perfect. This troubling lapse aside, to what do I owe this visit?”
“How about you and I talk about it on our way out?” Kate said as she began smirking, just slightly though.
Jackie opened her mouth slightly before shutting it again. Speechless, then. That was a good reaction, Kate thought.
“Just make sure you’re wearing something comfortable. Oh!” Kate said, snapping her fingers. “And make sure to bring your battle-ribbon-thingie!”
Jackie’s doll-like face cracked with a frown. In fact, Mari was frowning too! What was Mari eavesdropping for, and why were the two of them trying to gang up on Kate? Did they think they could both take her? Before Kate could issue her challenge, Jackie hurried to explain her unease.
“I am to bring my urumi?” Jackie asked, using an unfamiliar term that might have been that cool weapon dancers used to show off their moves. Probably the same thing, Kate decided.
“Yep!” Kate said, “That! But! Make sure it’s the real thing, not the one for sparring. Ya know?”
“Sir Kate,” Jackie said awkwardly. “I am unsure of your reasoning in this, but my unease is growing in regards to this evening. Just what is on our agenda?”
Ha! As if Kate would just up and say it like that.
“Nah, it’s a surprise,” Kate said, once again bouncing upon her toes. “Just go get it.”
Jackie, despite her hesitations, did as she was told. She was a good girl like that.
Kate managed to keep their plans for that evening a surprise, even as she led with her arm linked with Jackie’s non-deviant arm.
They descended Blossom Hill, passed through both the Merc and the Mercantile Quarters, until reaching the divide, the sunken road that cut Southbridge in two.
But, it was as they crossed a bridge towards the slums that Jackie pulled away, slipping Kate’s grasp.
“This…” Jackie said slowly, as though unsure of her own words. Kate turned to face her. “What–or rather, why–yes, why–why are you leading me here?” Jackie finished with a rather suspicious tone. Not that Kate blamed the girl. Afterall, the slums were hardly a fun place to just wander in. It was dirty and reeked and was full of gross stuff in general. Plus, for most people, it was dangerous too! Well, the last was part of the charm, or so Kate thought.
Of course, while Kate might have understood where Jackie was coming from, that hardly meant Kate was willing to ruin it by telling. So instead, Kate said, “It’s a surprise!”
Jackie’s cyan eyes dimmed just slightly in response. She seemed to be weighing her words heavily before speaking them. They were rather unfortunate, so Kate could see why Jackie was picking her words carefully.
“I am unsure that I can continue following you into such a neighborhood under such a pretense.”
Kate scoffed. That was what Jackie had gone with? Kate thought, some irritation leaking. Enough so that Kate countered somewhat aggressively.
“What,” Kate said. “You think I can’t protect you? That I’m weak? You know that’s not the case.”
But if Kate knew that Jackie knew that Kate was good for a fight, then could Kate really get upset over the perceived slight? She ended up deciding maybe.
Of course, Jackie had to respond to the perceived slight to address Kate’s ruffled feathers.
“No,” Jackie spoke cautiously. “Not that. But the very fact that I may require defending is concerning, and an attack upon our persons is not only possible, but also likely. With such a cost, I must inquire upon the benefits of allowing you to lead me across this bridge.”
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Kate paused to think while she scratched her chin. She felt unsure if Jackie was speaking from serious concern here, which was strange, or if Jackie was attempting one of those romantic ploys that Kate had heard about from her aunt. In the end, Kate decided that she had no idea what was going through Jackie’s head and that Kate’s best possible course of action was to just push through.
Finally Kate sighed, trying for a middle ground to keep the ball moving forward.
“Well, I’ll tell you this much: it’s a date,” Kate said with a shrug, reaching forward slowly to once again grab Jackie’s elbow and link arms.
However, despite Kate’s longer reach, Jackie pivoted just enough to keep her arm out of reach.
Not that Jackie could have really stopped Kate had Kate really wanted to grab to connect. But dates were supposed to be friendlier than that.
“A date in the slums?” Jackie asked, her incredulity breaking the facade of proper speech.
“Uh… yeah?” Kate answered, feigning confusion.
Jackie deflated slightly.
“What destination could be worth traveling through–” Jackie nodded towards the dilapidated tenement buildings “-in there? It is hardly the go-to destination for those of your class… or mine, for that matter.”
Kate smirked. If only Jackie knew the things people of Kate’s class got up to. It was almost worth a chuckle. But tabling that rogue thought, Kate explained in what she hoped was a frustratingly uninformitave answer.
“Well, there’s the Pits,” Kate said.
Jackie remained unaffected by the answer, either failing to recognize the destination, which was unlikely, or not connecting it with Kate’s agenda.
Kate’s smile grew just slightly as Jackie deflated further with a sigh and a very slight furrow of her brows.
“Of course,” Jackie said. “As per your tendencies, of course your planned festivities would center upon blood sports.”
“Yep,” Kate said, maybe popping the ‘p’ like she had heard others her age do. She decided that she liked the slight flinch it caused in Jackie. Maybe Kate would do that more often.
After another few seconds, the both of them had begun obstructing enough traffic along the narrow footbridge to become an issue, and there were several irritated shouts from further away, from those that could not yet see the tall girl with the bastard sword. Kate let that particular offense slide. Besides, she had places to be.
“So, are we gonna keep moving, or…” Kate trailed off.
Jackie had probably noticed that they were holding up traffic as well. Not that it should matter. Honestly, almost everyone else crossing the bridge lacked a single grain of value, and they were probably all awful at fighting as well, so not even worthwhile in that regard either. If Kate was not heading off to somewhere else, if she had not had better things to do with her time, Kate might have just held up traffic for the point of it.
However, Kate did have places to be.
And so, with Jackie’s consent, which was communicated by Jackie ceasing her efforts to dodge, Kate re-linked arms and began leading them once more.
“Then I suppose that this is acceptable,” Jackie said. “Lead the way.”
For some reason, Jackie’s voice was not nearly as enthusiastic as Kate felt it should have been.
They crossed into the slums.
Kate did get to scratch the itch, at least a little bit.
On the way through the slums, a small dirty child tried pickpocketing them. Or at least Kate had thought so. She was hardly able to ask the kid now. But if he was completely innocent then he would have looked less suspicious.
Kate was cleaning her bastard sword on the kid’s nasty rags when she caught Jackie avert her gaze to their surroundings. If it had been less of a sudden motion, then Kate would have thought nothing of it. Afterall, it was best practice to keep at least one person on watch. In the end though, Kate decided to think nothing more of it. Likely, Jackie was worried there were other threats lurking nearby, or possibly a retaliatory action in the works.
Though, Kate considered mentioning her experience that the slums’ residents usually left her alone after the first example.
She decided to avoid lessening Jackie’s guard. Afterall, Kate had seen some problems in the work, problems that would hopefully be addressed rather soon. Such as the Garnets Crewmembers that they had passed had been looking a bit more sketchy than normal.
These were her thoughts until she finished cleaning her blade, or rather, finished smearing the blood off. She stood and inspected her blade in what little light filtered through the claustrophobic street. The results of her efforts were lacking.
“Does this blade look dirtier than when I started?” Kate asked, drawing Jackie’s attention away from their surroundings.
Jackie frowned just slightly, almost imperceptibly, but Kate had good eyes. Jackie thought the blade was still gross too. She must have. Ugh. Kate groaned internally. Why had she forgotten to bring a felt cloth?
“I believe that this is perhaps the case,” Jackie answered, confirming Kate’s fears.
“A pain,” Kate complained, making a mental note to give her sword a proper oiling later and slid it back in its scabbard. She then resumed her position beside Jackie and gently began pulling her forward once more.
Unfortunately, a metaphorical distance seemed to have grown between the two girls. Kate blamed the thief for spoiling their mood. She decided that the best way to resolve this was to be blunt and direct.
“What’s bothering you?” Kate asked.
“It is not so easily said,” Jackie said, strangely enough making the claim that she lacked the words. Considering her usual silver tongue, Kate thought that it might have been a lie. Kate considered some of the Marks that could reveal deceits, but that was really meant more for investigative work than what she was interested in herself.
“It was the dead kid, wasn’t it?” Kate asked somewhat pointedly.
Jackie’s breath hitched slightly and she nodded.
Kate groaned. “I didn’t think seeing that sort of thing would bother you.”
Jackie glanced away, towards some of the more descriptive graffiti nearby.
Kate was about to tell Jackie about why she needed to get over it, when Jackie finally responded with something usable.
“The waif was certainly jarring to behold in such a state,” Jackie admitted. “But that is not the only reason for my current disquiet.”
“Uh. What?”
She nodded at a few men lurking in the shadows of a nearby building. “We have been tailed the last several blocks by who I suspect are members of the Garnets.”
So Jackie had seen them. Good. Kate would have thought less of the girl if she had missed them.
“If those cowards think they can hurt us they’re welcome to try,” Kate spoke loudly for the benefit of everyone else on the street.
A few more steps and Kate saw Jackie’s lips twitch slightly, an almost smile. Kate grinned at the success.
A few steps further, andjackie patted Kate on the shoulder.
“Your boldness is endearing,” Jackie said.
“I know, right?”
They were nearing the Pits. It was one of the busy nights at the end of the week, when the floor was allowed to be challenged by the next crew on the schedule. These nights were always the bloodiest as the last crew traded out their stock of fighters in the case that they lost the challenge, which they likely would. There were a lot of calculations and numbers and stuff that went into it, at least according to the bookies. All of it was kinda boring, at least according to Kate.
As they neared, the streets began widening and the buildings began improving in quality, if slightly. The volume of the Pits could be heard, along with the hawkers and the bookies and the vendors, plus the people actually watching a fight.
It was loud.
It was crowded.
Kate loved it. Her grin grew wider and wider every time they passed another intersection.
After one particularly loud retort, Kate glanced towards her date to see if Jackie was enjoying the anticipation as much as Kate was.
Unfortunately, Kate saw that Jackie was grimacing. That was not the appropriate reaction that Kate had expected.
After seeing that, a part of Kate wanted to let things continue as they were. Afterall, she was sure that Jackie would warm up sooner or later, everyone did. It would be hard not to get her blood pumping when things started. But then again, Kate thought that maybe she should make sure her date was having a good time to start things off.
She clenched her jaw slightly, narrowed her eyes, then straightened up and came to a decision. It was probably just the volume that was bothering the other girl. And to be fair, it was quite loud. Kate decided that what Jackie needed was a distraction.
Kate bumped Jackie in the side, drawing the girl’s attention once more and sent her a hopefully endearing smile.
“Excited, yeah?” Kate asked leadingly.
Jackie pursed her lips in what might have been confusion before smiling herself, although it may have been slightly strained.
“This will be my first time attending,” Jackie admitted. “I had not expected such… volume.” Jackie finished, as though trying to select the best word for the boisterous surroundings.
“Yeah… it can get a bit rowdy. Great, right?”
Jackie nodded slowly. “Indeed. Though I find the experience deafening. Are you quite sure that this is safe?”
Kate scoffed. As if Kate were unable to protect them against some un-enhanced nobodies. Rather than showing her offense at the question, Kate gave a terse reply.
“Yeah. We’ll be safe. Promise.”
“Very well,” Jackie said. “I am in your hands…” the other girl trailed off as the narrow streets opened up and as the Pits came into view.
Well, they sort of came into view, at least.
On the other side of the divide, the open space would have been a large square, full of merchants, street performers, Knights, and the Crown knew what else. But here? Here it was a little bit different. A lot of bit different. For starters, the space was recessed, dropping hundreds of yards at an intimidating slope until reaching the flat and graveled bottom where debris littered and stains colored. All the walls of the pit were lined with benches chiseled into the stone itself, with stairs running haphazardly at uneven angles and inconsistent heights. None of the work was professionally leveled. In fact, it was filthy and amateurish and it was a marvel everytime a night passed without an accident sending somebody tumbling down in a cascade of scum and trash. Of course, not all of the seating was so poorly done. The Pit Crews each manned their own corner of the space, making the Pits one of the few neutral areas in the Slums.
Well, not neutral, exactly. More of a bigger player enforcing a truce to keep the fights profitable. That, and the Skingineer keeping her operations nearby. Nobody wanted her to have a reason to intervene. Just thinking about some of the horror stories Kate had heard from the Low Knights left Kate almost shuddering. That girl had some crazy ideas.
Jackie, meanwhile, had been taking in the scene as they came to the lip of the Pits where an impromptu railing had been created from broken carts and old barrels. Not enough of an obstacle to keep the Pits and all their messy glory from view. Of course, Jackie had trailed off, lost in the sight of the spectacle.
“But, yeah… it’s pretty great,” Kate said as she reached over and pushed Jackie’s mouth shut.
Jackie nodded wordlessly.
During Kate’s first time here at the Pits, she had about a similar reaction, if more violent. The memory of that left Kate smirking.
She continued dragging Jackie towards one of the neutral spectating booths. It might have been more difficult reaching the booth if not for the fact that Kate easily dwarfed most everyone else, that, and her enhanced body, meant that the press of bodies parted around her, voluntarily or not. The latter method was her personal favorite.
Soon, they came near enough the entrance to the wealthier spectating area that the guards of whatever gang controlled the Pits came into play. And while the guards here were hardly Knights, in fact, they were just a bit better than the average Crewmember, it was enough to keep the worst of the riff-raff at bay.
Of course as Kate and Jackie entered the controlled area, still up on the rim of the Pits, they were glanced over by one of the chiefs or whatever else they called themselves. And of course, other than a quick examination, Kate was let through without hassle. And since Jackie was with her, she also received preferential treatment.
They reached a private set of stairs which jutted out a ways from the walls of the pit, giving a feeling of superiority over the benches hugging the walls of the pits. It also meant that everyone sitting on these upper benches could watch their betters descend to the booths.
But before Kate could descend, she had to be greeted by a relatively clean and well dressed attendant. A female with fairly exotic blonde hair and gray eyes. Likely, the gangs poached her from some whorehouse or other. If Kate were a different sort of girl, she might have tried taking advantage of the attendant. But with Jackie there, it would have been rude.
“Is that Sir Guardson?” the attendant asked, a cloying smile and a submissive tilt to her back. From Kate’s vantage the woman’s cleavage was visible and a pleasant distraction from the rest of the slums. “Yes, I would recognize you from anywhere. What brings you to grace our humble establishment, viewing or participating yourself?”
Jackie twitched slightly, but Kate paid that no mind. Likely, Jackie was enjoying the view as well. Although from Jackie’s diminutive height she likely was afforded less of a welcome sight. That, and the fact that Jackie likely came across much better and much more frequently with where she lived and all. Honestly, Kate was somewhat envious of the girl’s living conditions.
The attendant remained smiling, although it grew somewhat strained as the seconds passed by before Kate remembered to answer.
“Maybe a bit of both, but it depends on who’s running the games today,” Kate both answered and asked at the same time.
“This last week was graced by the Opals, and as turnover comes today, we will see a challenge from the Garnets…”
Once again, Jackie twitched, although this time at the mention of the Garnets.
Kate, meanwhile, nodded. This was what she had been expecting.
“Will the floor be open for volunteer challengers?” Kate asked, making sure that none of the scarier residents would take issue with anything that Kate had planned. Not that she had to really worry about that sort of reaction, but even her mother would be loath to make needless enemies.
“For the right challenger–” the attendant gave a playful smile while she made a show of tapping her lips as though in thought “-I believe the boss would accept it.”
Kate smirked and eyed the attendant in a discreetly appreciative manner.
“And would I be the right sort?” Kate asked, already knowing the answer.
“I’ll send a runner to check, but I would not be surprised if you were permitted to… play. Although the standard cautions must be reminded–”
“-but yeah, I get it,” Kate interrupted. “Fighting in the Pits is ‘dangerous’ and participants engage at their own peril. It’s fine. Nothing’s going to happen anyways.”
From the corner of Kate’s eyes, she saw Jackie giving Kate a somewhat surprised and worried expression, not that Jackie’s face was ever expressive to begin with. But the hint of the emotion was there. Kate’s lips curled up in a slight smile. It was good to keep a date off balance, she thought.
“Then,” the attendant said, stepping aside and bowing at the waist. “I welcome you to the show.”
Kate once more led the way, pulling Jackie behind her as they descended the elevated stairs towards a wooden platform and booths, almost seeming to float above the rest of the rabble.
It was as they descended, Kate leading the way as always and hence roughly the same height as Jackie, that Kate heard Jackie speak in a quiet voice in a manner perhaps not meant to be overheard, yet heard all the same.
“Concerning,” Jackie said in that low voice.
Rather than respond, Kate opened the door to the booth and her grin grew all the wider as she took it in with Jackie just behind her.
Several of the booth’s occupants glanced their way, although other than a cursory acknowledgement, the others provided no further interaction. Which was for the best. Because while the other viewers may have worn better cut clothes which were mostly clean, they were still several steps below Kate, at least socially speaking.
Rather than interact with her lessers, Kate waved down the bartender at the back of the booth, ordered two drinks of the better stock, and grabbed Jackie by the waist and hugged her close to Kate’s side as she stepped up to the balcony, alongside the others.
The fights below had yet to really hit their stride, but some blood had still been shed, by the time the bartender brought the liquor out. Kate took both of them, despite the expectant look that Jackie gave the second drink.
Kate rolled her eyes. “You’ll get yours, but just a sec.” Kate held both drinks to her nose, sniffing each time, examining the subtleties hidden beneath the caustic burn of the fumes. After several heartbeats, she had satisfied herself and handed the second drink to Jackie. “Just checking. Ya know. Precautions and all that.”
Several of the others alongside the railing glanced Kate’s way but they all quickly averted their eyes before Kate could give them a non-verbal chastising. The threats went unnoticed by Jackie as she took the drink and gave it a curious sniff of her own. Her eyes widened and almost seemed to sparkle.
“Strong, right?” Kate said, amused by the reaction. Of course, the girl with a hollow leg would be all about whatever this place bottled.
“Indeed,” Jackie said, holding her glass tumbler out towards Kate.
Kate canted her head, somewhat confused, wondering if Jackie wanted Kate to perform a taste test as well. Instead, Jackie scoffed and tapped her tumbler against Kate’s own.
“Cheers,” Jackie said dryly.
Kate chuckled. “Cheers back at ya,” she said. “Though I don’t think this is the place to toast.”
“No,” Jackie said with a dry tone. “I imagine not.”