Fritz and his team started their night at an establishment called the Crimson Carp. The large building was nestled in with the other taverns, inns and salons in the Circle of Revelry.

They had made their way through the nightlife crowds, underneath the awnings and the bright mana-lanterns into the open door of the noisy tavern. Firelight washed over them as did the many talking voices, the clinking of glasses and mugs, and the jaunty music of a trio of performers. The sound of a flute, a harp and drums rolled through the crowded common room and Fritz and his team immediately seized upon a free table.

They looked around, the tavern wasn't the refined salon frequented by nobles, but neither was it the raucous almost-lawless drinking hole that could commonly be found in the districts. The Crimson Carp struck a balance between the two in an ordered, excited chaos. All but Lauren seemed somewhat out of their depths, judging by the nervous looks on their faces. They didn't stand out as much as Fritz worried they would, as they were neither the most richly nor most poorly attired, but they did get a few curious glances from other tables and groups.

Rosie was giddy at the attention she seemed to be receiving, attired as she was she was catching more than a few sly stares. Though that might have been because she was one of the only three merfolk in the room, and the only one in a dress.

Soon a pretty waitress in a clean white apron approached, welcomed them politely and took their orders. Fritz sent for wine as did Lauren. George, Bert and Rosie all shared in some spirits, whisky being their preference for their first drink. Cal seemed at a loss but eventually settled on wine as well.

"First a toast," Fritz said, once their glasses and bottles arrived. He didn't stand and he limited his voice to their table. "To the team, to our victory. Each of you have proven brave, loyal and most of all powerful."

"To George, his sword, and cleaving our foes.

To Cal, his arms, and his most deadly of throws.

To Lauren, her fire, and the scorching to bone.

To Rosie, her hardness, and her scales of stone.

To Bert, his toughness, and who never will fall

To the team, our triumph, and to one and to all."

The team's expressions were a mix of wide grins and small smiles, they raised their glasses with Fritz.

"And here is to Fritz, who can never quitz," Bert added as they clinked their glasses together.

They laughed and downed their drinks.

"I also have a toast," George said as they poured second glasses.

"Let's hear it then," Bert said, nudging the stocky man.

George cleared his throat with a small cough, then said, "Here's to our new wealth. Here's to the Treasure. Here's to the Climb, and here's to many more!"

They drank again.

"I may have one too," Cal said sheepishly.

"Go ahead," Fritz allowed as the wine began to warm his stomach.

"I've never had much in the way of friends," Cal started as they all listened. "But I feel we all have a bond beyond that of uh, well, I don't know. So here's to new friendship."

They drank again. Then Lauren spoke, her tone was proper though it had a bitter edge.

"Here's to new beginnings. Under no yoke. Free from the expectation of others."

They drank, then refilled their drinks for the third time.

"To gold. And dry rooms. And good food. And all the nice things!" Rosie said.

They drank again and Fritz and the more sensible George only took sips this time, not wanting to get drunk too quickly. Bert, Lauren, Cal and Rosie, however, took no such precautions, swallowing down their various liquors with abandon.

"To more drinking!" Bert toasted.

Again, they drank and soon they were thoroughly enjoying themselves, listening to the music, chatting amiably and bickering lightheartedly.

Fritz heard a cry of recognition and turned to see a familiar face. Dayne, a climber they had met in the sixth-floor well room, approached with a wide grin and drunken gait.

"You fine folk made it through!" He yelled through the din. "Congratulations! You'll have to let me buy you a round, come meet my team and some of our Climber friends!"

Fritz felt no reason to object, in fact, free drinks sounded like a great gift, so he and his team joined the other more experienced climbers.

"Surprised to see you out so soon," Dayne said. "Quick climbers! I see none of you were eaten by sirens."

"We were able to avoid them for the most part," Fritz lied.

Dayne nodded seriously. "A wise move. Able to steal any silk?"

"Just some threads," Cal said, corroborating the story.

"Lucky," Dayne grumbled.

"What about you, did you end up Climbing any higher?" Fritz asked.

"No, and our noble patron's not happy about it," Dayne groused.

"What happened?"

"Decided to leave since we couldn't find another member and our supplies were running low. And we didn't want to buy more from those gouging Guide bastards."

"Bastards," Rosie agreed.

"Whoa!" Dayne said, "Someone got even luckier. You're one of the merfolk now."

"Yep. Like my scales?" She asked.

"I do," he said.

"Thanks," Rosie said. They looked at each other and smiled.

The celebration continued, they mingled and talked, bragged and boasted, about what they'd seen and done. Fritz allowed it, as they were getting deep into their cups and little of what was said would be believed or even remembered. Dayne and his friends didn't even seem to come to the conclusion that they had succeeded in a Golden Climb, or maybe they had and just didn't mention it since Fritz and his team were keeping quiet about it.

Fritz found the new company to be good, though he didn't make much of an effort to learn names or make friends. His mind kept drifting to other times, other places and other people. It started to get late, many of their new acquaintances left and Bert decided it was time to move on to Tallies.

Fritz agreed and soon they were striding in the rain down to the Sunken Ring gates.

"Where's George?" Lauren asked with a slight slur as she looked around at their current group.

"We lost him to a big, strong man at the tavern," Rosie said, laughing.

"He had a sword, a big one," Bert espoused.

"Of course he did," Fritz said. "That man and his swords."

"That would be Leon," Dayne said, his arms around both Rosie and Bert.

"Gooood for him," Lauren said a skip in her step as she danced ahead, out of the cover of Fritz's umbrella.

They were making quite the ruckus, but it was late and the rain dampened their voices and the storm guard let them through the gate without complaint. They merely scowled or rolled their eyes as the team continued their journey.

Fritz took a swig from his bottle of wine, then handed it off when Lauren grabbed at it. His bones burned coldly as the moonsilver lacing them combated his drunkenness. An annoying downside to a lifesaving Award. He'd have to drink at least three times as much to get even half as drunk. It wasn't fair. He turned his slightly blurry vision to Bert, who seemed even less affected by the drink and was enjoying a bottle of whisky, sucking it down like beer and boasting at Dayne and Rosie.

The walk through the dangerous streets took some time, maybe half an hour but was relatively uneventful. Seemingly the gangs knew to stay away from a group of well-dressed people, one of them obviously armed and all of them possessed of great confidence. It must have been obvious that they were Climbers and therefore too much for the cowardly thugs to menace.

Only one group of idiots attempted anything, and it was Cal of all people who scared them away by grabbing their leader, lifting him over his head and throwing him with ease. Right into the great canal they walked beside. The man was washed away in a moment and his gang didn't stick around to help him.

Cal laughed and the sound had a vicious mirth that Fritz could appreciate.

"Can't mess with me now!" He cried. "I'm a Pather and you're all squid-sucking, craven cowards."

He laughed more, his voice ringing in the rain and they continued their trek, meeting no other trouble. The working girls winked and called out as they passed, the rent boys did also. Fritz led his team forward, waving away the escorts as they sought to entice his team with their solicitous promises and bared skin.

They arrived at Tallies, it must have been midnight because it was quite busy, still, they were able to find a table, or rather buy one by chucking some silver to some rough-looking men whose contemptuous scowls turned to polite smiles when they saw the cool gleam of the triads. As Fritz and his team sat, he looked around the bustling room for anyone he knew, but there were too many people milling about and blocking his view. There was shouting and yelling, and there was a violin being played somewhere, likely in the more crowded corner.

A cute blonde waitress arrived, her low apron showing off much of her generous bosom, while her dress ended a scandalous twelve inches above her ankles and revealed a fair display of smooth legs.

Fritz hadn't seen this woman before, but he hardly frequented the place enough to know all the waitresses by face and name. They ordered their drinks, skipping wine or beer and setting straight into spirits.

Lauren asked for rum, saying she'd always wanted to try it as it was always mentioned in seafaring adventures.

"It won't be the same swill they serve on ships," Fritz said.

"Well, I want that swill," she protested, resting her head on one hand and pouting prettily. "I want to feel like I'm on an adventure!"

The waitress smiled, "We have some harsh stuff that Tallie drinks when she's feeling nostalgic."

"Great! I'll take that... hey, you're really pretty," Lauren said, staring up at the woman.

"Thank you, I love your dress," the waitress replied, beaming down at her.

Then the two were chatting eagerly, orders forgotten, so Fritz took upon himself to Scout some more spirits. He stood and made his way to the bar. Bert followed as did Cal. As they moved through the crowd they both scanned the rough patrons.

Bert found someone he was looking for and waved at her. She stood at one end of the bar, her black hair pulled back and dark arms crossed. Lynn, somehow, didn't see him, even though she was busy watching the crowds for trouble. It seemed she was no longer a waitress but a bouncer.

Bert elbowed his way through the milling masses and made his way to where she stood. He swept his arms around her and received a punch in the side and a knee in the gut as a reward. He staggered back, straightened up, then grinned. Lynn's scowl slid into a smirk when she recognised her assailant. Then she laughed and punched his arm in a more friendly manner.

Fritz couldn't hear them, he could have if he tried, but he didn't want to eavesdrop. Instead, he made his way to the bar, where Tallie herself was tending to it. She noticed him, finished pouring a drink, and made her way over on powerful, large legs wrapped in the velvety, black cloth of a long curve-hugging dress. Tallie was tall, with at least another foot of height on Fritz, and everything about the woman was large in a muscular yet feminine way. She lowered her head to meet his eyes and smiled warmly, brushing aside a strand of pale blonde hair.

"Fritz, you're back so soon," Tallie said in her melodic tones.

"You knew I was gone?" Fritz asked suspiciously.

"When I want to know something, word gets to me," Tallie boasted.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

"And you wanted to know where I was?" Fritz asked.

"Not particularly, but Sid did," Tallie remarked.

"Sid came looking for me?" Fritz asked, trying not to show the giddy joy bubbling in his chest.

"He did," Tallie said. "He was mighty put out that you didn't say farewell. Never seen him care so much about something like that," she added, a mischievous smirk crawling up her red-lipsticked lips.

"Well, I'm here now. Where is he? I can go find him," Fritz said one word tumbling over the other.

That just made her deep black eyes twinkle in delight.

"Not now, you'll cause too much trouble in your state," Tallies said, her mirth giving way to stern warning.

"I'm not that drunk," Fritz proclaimed, and it was mostly true, his bones were working hard to keep him sober despite his efforts to the contrary.

"It's not your drunkenness I'm talking about. There's danger afoot and if you walk into his territory without thought you'll likely cause trouble," Tallie explained.

"I made a promise to help," Fritz declared hotly. "I don't care if I get hurt."

"It will be Sid who gets hurt, and those he's taken to protecting," Tallie said in a low serious tone. "He won't thank you for rushing in and ruining what he's built, or rather, building."

"Oh," Fritz said, deflating. "Then what should I do?"

"Wait, watch and listen," Tallie said. "You're a Scout, right? It shouldn't be too hard for you."

Fritz nodded, they didn't speak for almost nine seconds while he thought.

"I'm due to be dragged in front of the Nightshark," Fritz said.

Tallie nodded.

"Any advice?" He asked.

Tallie pondered for some moments before speaking.

"Take this," she said handing him a woven bracelet of pink beads.

"What's this?"

"It's a token and a warning," Tallie said. "It says you're a friend of mine."

"Oh. We're friends?" Fritz asked stupidly.

Tallie scoffed, then leant her face closer to his, so close their noses almost touched. Fritz almost thought she was going to kiss him, but instead, she spoke and her words came out low and soft.

"I remember what you did for Vee, Lynn, Naomi, and Sid. And I know the truth of such a decision. You kept your promise, though it would mean losing your life. Most others would have baulked, many others would have turned traitor and slain those girls for a chance at survival. You chose to make good on your words in the most dire of dangers. That makes you good, that makes you a hero, that makes you... my friend."

Fritz didn't know what to say, so he stayed silent, for once.

Tallie leant back and smiled.

"Can I get you anything to drink?" She asked.

Fritz smiled. "Something from-"

"Portus-hai? We're all out," she said with a wink.

Fritz laughed and gave his and his team's orders. While he waited for them to be poured he glanced around and noticed many of the waitresses had bracelets similar to the one he was just given. They had them on wrists, ankles, or tying up their hair, it was odd that he hadn't noticed it before but he supposed that was because he didn't make a habit of gawking at every pretty woman he saw. Like Cal currently was.

"Why don't you just talk to them," Fritz suggested, nudging the man with his elbow.

"I uhh. I can't," Cal said as he kept nervously glancing at some women in the corner.

"Why not?" Fritz said. "You're a Pather now. And look, your clothes are no longer rags. You're at least three times the man you were before."

"I still feel I'd need to be ninety times the man I was to have a chance with her. She's so wonderful, and smart, and beautiful, and kind, and pretty, and good. She even helped me once when Rosie was sick. I had not even a copper at the time and she gave me a tonic, for nothing. I'm not worthy," Cal bemoaned drunkenly.

"Worthy of whom?" Fritz said turning his back on the bar and searching the room for whom he was pining.

Following Cal's furtive gaze, Fritz found the objects of his affection and smirked.

"Which one is your heart caught by? Ame or Naomi?"

"Ame," Cal admitted morosely. "Wait do you know them?"

"Everyone knows everyone down here in the Sunken Ring," Fritz said. "Though, I do have something of a friendship with Naomi."

"Lucky," Cal grumbled.

"Just go talk to her," Fritz said.

"I don't know what to say," Cal said.

Fritz sighed.

"Just say, 'Hi, thanks for helping my sister, Rosie. I couldn't pay you back then, but I'm a rich Climber now and I'd like to make good on my debt.'"

"Huh," Cal said, his sluggish thoughts plodding along. "Think that will work?"

"Maybe. You don't know if you don't try," Fritz said with a shrug.

When Cal bit his lip and didn't move, Fritz slung an arm around the man's shoulders and, forgetting his drinks, began to steer him toward the table where the two alchemist sisters sat.

"Come, I'll introduce you," Fritz said as if it were an offer and he wasn't dragging the man into action.

In the Spire, out the Spire, always the same.

"Naomi! Ame!" Fritz cried when he reached their table. They scowled up at the intruders though their expressions smoothed into surprised delight. They both had bottle-green eyes and tanned skin, and were quite pretty all told. Naomi's black hair had purple streaks, the two strands hanging over her face, while Ame's hair was a gradient of midnight at the centre that lightened to sapphire at the edges.

"Fritz!" Naomi nearly shrieked. She stood, banging a knee on the table as she did so. Ignoring the pain, she limped over and embraced Fritz. He returned the gesture, letting his arm fall from Cal's shoulder. He held the woman for a moment, her head buried in his chest, before gently disengaging.

Ame smiled knowingly from where she sat, sipping beer from a mug.

"You're back!" Naomi exclaimed. "Was it dangerous?"

"It was," Fritz said. "Though as you can see, we survived."

"We?" Naomi asked, then she turned to Cal as if noticing him for the first time. "Who's this?"

"Why, this is my friend and a member of my Climbing Team, Cal," Fritz espoused, slapping the man on the back.

"Hello," Naomi said.

"Nice to meet you," Ame said, smiling politely.

"Actually uh... we have um, met before," Cal said, taking a step closer and raising his voice to better be heard.

"Have we?" Ame asked.

"I uh, yes, you once helped me," Cal said. "My sister was sick and you gave me a tonic. It helped... it helped a lot."

"Oh," Ame said her smile becoming more genuine. "I'm glad to hear it."

"I'd like to repay that debt," he continued. "I've got gold now. And uh... I'd also like to ahh... buy you a drink. If you'd allow it."

Ame's eyes glittered and she laughed. Cal's face blushed as deep a red as Fritz had ever seen and he'd seen the man blush a lot.

"So sweet," she said after stifling her mirth. "Come, sit by me." She patted the chair beside her and Cal, in his haste to oblige, banged his own knee against the table as Naomi had.

That caused Naomi to snort and Fritz to smile, then they both sat, joining the two.

They began to chat about this and that, Fritz regaled the two with a brief, and mostly embellished summary of their Climb, though it was without any of the many secrets they had to keep.

He was having some fun until a hand slapped down hard on his shoulder. He looked up to see Lynn and Bert behind her.

"Lynn," Fritz said in greeting.

"Fritz, good to see you," Lynn said with a strained smile.

"Where's Vee?" he asked.

"New job," Lynn said.

"Oh?"

"I've already told Bert, get the story from him," she said, her tone stern, but laced with a hint of worry.

Fritz raised an inquiring eyebrow and the woman continued, "She's fine, don't worry about it."

Fritz nodded and Lynn jabbed a thumb over her shoulder and at the bar. Tallie was leaning on the counter and seemed to be waiting for him to collect his drinks.

"Whoops," Fritz said.

He stood and excused himself, Naomi also made her excuses and joined him, leaving Cal with Ame as they talked.

When he reached the bar and collected his forgotten orders he heard some cheers, whistles and cries. Tallie was glaring in the disturbance's direction, so Fritz followed her gaze. His eyes alighted on an unexpected scene. Lauren had the waitress from before sat sideways in her lap, and they were kissing, ignoring the crowd and the noise around them.

"That's one of your team right?" Tallie asked.

Fritz nodded.

"Can you pry her off my waitress, she's meant to be working," Tallie asked, though it was more a demand.

"I can try," Fritz hedged, though they seemed stuck to each other like skulg.

"You should do it before I get Lynn to," Tallie said.

Fortunately, Fritz didn't have to do anything as there was a piercing screech that split the room's regular roar, forcing flinches and causing Lauren and the waitress to stop in their amorous affections. People covered their ears and one man fell down stunned a small dribble of blood leaking from one ear. The sound was one Fritz knew all too well.

He looked for Rosie and saw her standing over the fallen man with fists clenched.

"Don't touch me!" She yelled.

"He just wanted to see if your scales were real, you bitch," one of the fallen's friends said. The speaker was a large man with the start of a gut and powerful, thick arms. He stepped close, then when Rosie didn't step back from the aggressive movement, he threw a whole-bodied punch.

The blow struck her face with a wet slap and a crack. Her head barely moved an inch and the man roared in pain, lumbering back and shaking out his fist. Rosie didn't let him off the hook that easily, she slid forward, and in a familiar coiled and compact motion, pulverised the man's crotch with a brutal uppercut. His yell cracked, rising into a whine and he fell with a thud that shook the floorboards. He cried and choked as he desperately grasped his groin.

Rosie stared at the man, then at her fist, then up at the crowd. She grinned her shark's grin. Then she cackled. Lauren's own laugh joined her and did Bert's guffaw.

The crowd gave Rosie a wide berth and Tallie asked, "Another one of yours?"

Fritz could only nod and smirk.

"These are your last drinks for tonight I think," Tallie said, obviously displeased with the trouble, but not overly so. "You can leave after."

"Can we get some bottles for the road?" Fritz asked. "Lauren said she wanted some sailor's rum."

Tallie tried to keep her face stern, but something about the request amused her and he could see a smirk break the serious surface.

"Fine," She said, handing him a bottle of brown spirits. "But she'll regret it."

"I'm sure she will," Fritz said, taking their drinks.

Luckily, when Fritz arrived at his table the waitress had noticed Tallie's glare and hopped back to work, much to Lauren's lament. Still, the team, joined by Naomi, drank and made merry. Bert and Rosie wrapped arms around each other's shoulders and laughed about her first tavern brawl. Again, Fritz saw those red sparks, but they were out of the Spire and he could hardly object.

Lauren proceeded to progress her intoxicated state and was clumsily complaining about her mother and her sister, and her entire household, even her sister's pet cat. Fritz tried to listen but found himself distracted by thoughts of Sid. She had tried to find him and he couldn't help but worry.

He felt foolish, of course, they were meant to be celebrating, but always his mind wandered to her. Fritz had to wonder though, was Sid still the same Sid he had climbed with? He worried that perhaps their ill-founded and all-too-short romance was merely a product of their proximity in that perilous place. That it was all the danger and desire, rather than the real warmth and gentle affection he remembered.

Fritz shook his head and his muddled mind. It had only been a week. And he'd know when he saw her again. Smiling, and after taking another acrid swig of the foul rum, Fritz corked the bottle and called his team to heed him.

"Finish your drinks, it's time to go home," Fritz ordered.

"Home, never had one of those before," Bert mused.

"Me neither," Rosie said, standing and dragging Bert up with her.

"Lucky," Lauren bemoaned as she staggered to her feet, swayed and almost fell.

"Whoa there sailor," Fritz said getting an arm under the woman and letting her lean on him.

"Not a sailor. A Climber," Lauren proclaimed.

"Then why do you stink of rum?" Fritz said.

"I don't stink. You stink," she replied poking her tongue out at him. "Where's my waitress?"

"Serving drinks, come, we have to go," Fritz said.

"Where's Cal?" Rosie asked.

"With Ame, over there," Naomi said, pointing.

"You know, you're kind of cute. You should come home with me," Lauren said, eyeing the alchemist blearily, irises dancing with soldering embers.

Naomi stared back, seemingly surprised and speechless at the forwardness.

Fritz rolled his eyes.

"Lauren, cease your insouciant wenchery," he said. "We're going home."

Lauren pouted.

"Can't make me. No one can tell me what to do," she mumbled as her eyes drooped and she began to doze. "No one."

"Sorry about her," Fritz said. "She's normally very, well, I wouldn't say nice... though she's usually more polite."

"Oh, it's okay, I've heard worse," Naomi said. "And uh.. I don't mind... um going home. With you, Fritz."

She began to blush, then looked away hastily.

Fritz's heart sped up, and for a moment he was at a loss for words. She was pretty, no doubt, and kind, for sure, and it wasn't like he was promised to anyone. And there was no harm in a small dalliance. Not really. He barely had time to consider the offer before Bert broke in, saving him from having to let her down gently.

"Fritz is still pining!" He cried. "You'll get nowhere with him yet."

"What?" Naomi asked.

"Siiiiid," Bert gleefully said as if gloating.

"Oh. Oooh," Naomi said, her pupils widening. "Really?"

"Really," Bert said more seriously.

"Of course," Naomi whispered glumly. "It would have to be her."

She sniffed and rubbed at one eye.

"I'll go get your team member," she said suddenly, turning and striding off quickly.

"Bert, look what you've done," Fritz growled, actually annoyed at his antics.

"I did nothing," Bert said.

"She's hurt," Fritz said. "You hurt her."

"She hurt herself," Bert claimed.

Fritz was about to argue when Cal came wandering up with a pleased, if sheepish, grin plastered on his stupid face.

"We're going home?" he asked.

"We are. Let's go," Fritz said, lifting Lauren off her unused feet and throwing her over one shoulder like a sack of squid.

"Weee," she mumbled before slipping into a deeper stupor.

She was terribly warm, as if she had a fever and had been sitting by a furnace. Lauren hadn't been sick, at least not that he'd seen, so Fritz quickly came to the conclusion that her abnormal heat was a combination of her fire magic and her new Award.

When they were outside, Fritz brandished his umbrella and opened it, then he led the way home, leaving behind his anger and letting the lullaby of the drumming rain soothe his thoughts. They met no more trouble than they could handle. Bert had to punch a few men but there was no need for more than that.

While they walked something occurred to Fritz and he asked Rosie, "When you got your Merfolk Strain choice, did you see any clauses about Authority or a Decree?"

"Nah, nothin' like that," Rosie answered a little slowly. "Just stuff like you have befriended many fish, influenced by havin' scales. Stuff like that."

"Oh, no faded glyphs?" Fritz asked.

"Nope, but my scales passive moved into my Strain slots," she provided. "But Lauren said that's normal."

"Lucky you," Bert said. "They look great."

"Thanks you," Rosie said, smiling and resting her head on Bert's shoulder as they walked with arms around each other.

They were at the gate into the Upper Ring in what seemed like minutes to Fritz's pleasantly buzzing mind. The drizzlers had shut the gates, but opened them and allowed Fritz and his team to pass when he flashed his signet ring and threatened to have them punished for denying him egress from the Sunken Ring. A little of the cruel tones of Dusksong added to his orders didn't hurt either.

They respectfully bowed their heads and would not meet his eyes as he passed. It felt good. Although it soured his gut that not one of the guards challenged him even though he was carrying an ostensibly unconscious woman. Cowardly scum.

Only when he was in the Upper Ring and close to their house was he accosted again by drizzlers. The rest of his team, save Lauren, who he still carried, had raced ahead nearly six minutes ago. They had said he was being slow, so he was left to deal with these 'guards' on his own. He cursed silently.

"What are you doing with that woman!" A familiar voice yelled.

It took Fritz a second to recognise it, and he was not surprised to see one sergeant Louisa approaching him with thunder in her eyes and purpose in her steps. He almost laughed at the absurd coincidence. Then he did laugh when he saw her appalled face once she identified him.

"Sergeant, we meet again," Fritz smirked.

"Sir Francis," she ground out.

"I'm afraid it's Lord Francis now," Fritz arrogantly professed.

"Is that so?" she said, evidently annoyed. "I fail to see why that matters."

Fritz was gladdened by her possession of a solid spine, nobility or no. He untwisted his smirk into something more pleasant, something almost approaching a smile.

"I'm getting this lady home," he said jostling Lauren, who groaned unintelligibly. "She's had a little too much to drink. Though I'm not one to talk on that subject."

"Quite so," the sergeant agreed.

Two men from her squad formed up behind her, glancing at each other anxiously, clearly they didn't want to get involved in noble business.

"And how do you know her?"

"She's my Striker, on my Climbing team," Fritz said shaking Lauren again, she awoke properly this time and tapped him on the back, signalling him to put her down. He did, though she still leant on him for support.

"Is this true?" Louisa asked Lauren far more gently.

Lauren raised her eyes to the drizzler, then she smiled wide.

"Yyou're vvery prettyy," she slurred. "And that uniform. Dellliiightful. Am I to be made a prisoner, Miss Guard?"

"Do you know this man?" Louisa asked, ignoring Lauren's drunken attempts at seduction.

Lauren looked to Fritz, then back to the guard and said, "It's just Fritz, he's annoying and thinks he's a poet. But he's good, apart from that."

Fritz rankled at the description, though he didn't challenge it.

"He's taking me home. You should come. Make sure I'm safe. Tuck me into bed," she nearly purred running a finger down the woman's rainsteel breastplate. Then Lauren began to giggle uncontrollably, the sound soon stretched into a cackle.

Lauren was a menace, triply so when she was drunk. Fritz couldn't help but laugh with her, it didn't even matter to him if he looked mad.

Louisa sighed heavily.

"Come on, get moving," she said with weary exasperation. "I'll escort you."

She waved off her squadmates and they returned to their patrols. Fritz considered fleeing, disappearing in the night so the guard didn't learn where he currently lived. He decided against that course of action, knowing it would only cause more trouble. What danger could it really be if Louisa knew where he called home? They could find that out anyway.

Fritz smiled, then led the way with the drizzler striding beside Lauren.

She leant on the guard and kept trying to whisper into her ear, but Louisa was having none of her nonsense and held her at a slight distance. Soon they were home and Fritz left the sergeant by the gate. Lauren waved and blew her a kiss, before slumping over Fritz's shoulder. Louisa frowned, turned, then left.

He unlocked the door, then half carried Lauren to her room.

"Thankyou, Fritz," she said sleepily. She yawned as she fumbled with the lock and key.

He waved her off and found his way to his own room, then to his own bed, then he lay there.

He grinned as rain drummed overhead and wood creaked.

He laughed.

Then he slept with a smile on face.