Jeremy:

“You asshole,” Alden retorted to Boe’s barb and then vanished as he teleported away to his first ever summons as an Avowed.

I turned to Boe with wide eyes.

“Hygienic Ritual Sacrifices. Really?! Where do you come up with this stuff?” I exclaimed.

Boe levelled a classic Boe-expression at me and replied, “Do you know me at all?”

I shook my head tried to wrap my head around what had just happened. It was all so fast.

“Good call on grabbing Alden’s phone. I was too freaked to think that clearly,” I said.

“Yup, that’s what I am here for. Keeping cool and collected in the face of chaos,” Boe deadpanned.

“Eh, what are we going to tell Connie?” I wondered aloud.

Boe shrugged and adjusted his glasses, then stated dismissively, “We can figure it out later. I’m more worried about taking care of the cat.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Gorgon made a sort of chuffing noise.

"Is he going to be alright?" I asked once again in a small voice, plucking at the bottom seam of my tee shirt.

"Ugh, yes…Why do you keep asking? Because he’s a Rabbit...should I spell it out? R-A-B-B-I-T," Boe snapped, but his voice softened when he followed up with, “just a lowly….B-rank…rabbit.”

I noticed that his eyes slightly closed as he said this. A tell...small as it was. Boe didn't have many, and he probably didn't think I was near observant enough to notice, but it was there. He too was, at least a little, nervous about this abrupt summons. It was way too soon. Alden only affixed, like...freaking HOURS ago....or well, woken up from affixing. Dammit, he should have months before going anywhere...well, besides Anesidora. Even then, he should have been able to stay home, here in Chicago, at least a little while longer. We had so many experiments to run on his skill and rabbit trait.

We both stared for another beat at the empty space Alden had occupied only moments before. I didn't want to believe it, but it was real. My best friend had been yeeted across the galaxy...to another world. I heard Boe sigh, and then Gorgon, Alden's demon buddy, coughed.

"Ahem. Time, I think, for you two to return to the lobby," Gordon said, as he turned and headed back to the elevator. "Mind the chains," he tossed casually over his shoulder.

I silently wished Alden well on this assignment. I silently wished he would return quickly.

Boe held the door of the elevator and smirked.

"What?"

"Ha, he's probably just going to spend like an hour or so carrying around special food and drinks for a party," Boe jokingly suggested.

At that, I let the tension ease out of my shoulder and agreed, "Yeah....probably."