When trying to seduce a Valkyrie, it is best to be bold. There are so few of them, and so many trying to snag one, it stands to reason that playing coy and aloof is just a recipe for being overlooked and ignored.

--"How to snag a Valkyrie", page 45

***

Oh no.

"Listen, Sylvi. I really appreciate that show of trust just now, that confession, but I'm afraid it isn't going to work out. Firstly, I'm afraid I'm a bit too old for you."

"What? You're not too old, you're..." I started to protest, but she shushed by holding up a finger.

"Sylvi, I'm 89 this year. Forget about being your mother, I could be your grandmother."

"Wha-, but…"

"I know, I keep well. Perks of being a Valkyrie. But, more importantly, I don't swing that way. I'm sorry if I led you on, I'm not great with personal space and I know I can be a bit huggy, but you were just so adorable that..." She sighed. "Anyway, I'm sorry, I really am."

"It's..." I couldn't get the word 'okay' out.

"Oh Sylvi, what a mess we are. Well!" She got up, then reached a hand down to me. "Come on, let's get off the floor. We can at least sit on something soft while we sort this out, don't you think?"

"I..." I was tearing up again, but complied. She pulled me up, then we sat down next to each other on the bed.

"Here you go." She said, and handed me a cup of hot... was that cocoa?

"T-thank you?" I said a bit bewildered.

"Go on, take a sip."

It should have tasted like ash in my mouth, but truthfully, it was heavenly. Despite myself, it made me feel a bit better about the situation. I still felt awful, but, less awful.

"Now!" She clapped her hands together, as if to clear the air. "You've been barking up the wrong tree, for which I am extremely flattered, don't get me wrong, but wrong tree nonetheless. Let's see if we cannot get you back on track."

I looked at her in confusion.

"It is my opinion that you'd have much better luck elsewhere in this house. Now, normally I'd let things play out and enjoy the show, but I think you deserve something good coming your way a bit sooner than that. So." She looked at me.

I took another sip. This really was some good cocoa.

"As it turns out, while you've been carrying a torch for me, someone else has been carrying one for you."

I looked at her, confused.

"I'll give you a hint. She has two legs and lives in this house. Long, shapely legs. I've seen you admire them."

"Wait, Katherine?" I blurted out.

"Yeah. You should try asking her out. To a movie or something." She continued.

I was lost.

"On a date, Sylvi. You should try asking Katherine out on a date. Or would you rather I told her to ask you?"

My brain wasn't keeping up. You'd have thought with all the mental upgrades, but no.

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked.

"Because while I might be a bit clueless, when someone talks about someone else as much as Katherine talks about you, while smiling as much as she does, I get the idea. Helps that she blushes prettily whenever I tease her about you."

"No, but why are you telling me?"

"What? Because you need cheering up, and this seemed the fastest way."

Katherine? She was very pretty. And nice. She really liked me?

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"I'll go and ask her right now, if you want."

"No! Just... no. I'll... figure it out."

"You're sure?" She asked.

I nodded and took another sip of cocoa.

This put things in a new light. I thought back on some of my interactions with Katherine. A new light indeed.

"Are you okay?" She asked tentatively. "Should I stick around for a while longer?"

"No, I think I'm better now. You've given me a lot to think about. Oh, and sorry about the whole kiss thing, can we... can we just pretend that never happened?"

"Of course Sylvi. I'm very flattered, you know. It's not every day an old lady like me gets confessed to."

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I was so embarrassed. How had I not known? She really didn't look a day over thirty. Was this the kind of thing being a Valkyrie could do for you? Just, stop aging? Maybe even reverse it?

"I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" She gave me a side-hug from where she was sitting next to me.

I nodded.

"Thank you, Valerie."

"Of course. And it's still Val."

I nodded again, not trusting myself to speak.

"Now, I'm going to take a hot shower and then get back to bed. I'd suggest you do the same." She said as she stood up.

She looked at me for a while.

"Good night, Sylvi. Let me know if you need to talk again, okay?"

"I will, thanks. Good night." I replied.

She headed for the door, turned on the lights at half brightness, then closed the door after her as she left.

I then did as she suggested, and took a scalding hot shower.

Eyon? I thought while in the shower.

[Yes Sylvi?]

Why did you call Val? Why didn't you speak to me yourself?

[It seemed to me what you needed the most was physical presence and reassurance. A hug, in short.]

You could still have said something.

[I know. I will next time, especially if no one else is around, but I thought this worked out well.]

And why didn't you tell me she was so much older than me?!

[Like I said, we value the privacy of Vanguards very highly. And anyway, would it have stopped you?]

I... maybe?

[Regardless, it seems as if we might need to get a new poster for you. I wonder if Titanite has one for sale that is as good as the one you have of Ghost Widow?]

Eyon! I left that behind for reason!

[Maybe one of her in her under armour. You seemed to like that outfit. Especially from behind.]

Stop it! My face was heating up, and it wasn't all because of the shower.

[She might even be willing to pose for one, if you ask her nicely.]

You're terrible.

[I am just looking out for your interests.]

***

I slept well after that, and a bit long as was to be expected. When I finally got out of bed, I went down to the kitchen. I was too hungry to make anything fancy, so I just had some oats with nuts and a bit of jam. Then I got properly dressed, and decided that today was a day for working up a sweat, get my mind off of things. I briefly entertained the idea of going to the gym with Katherine, but quickly scrapped that idea. She was half of the things I wanted to get my mind off of. Instead I contacted Cammy, all but begging her to come out and climb with me. She readily relented, and we set a time in a few hours, leaving me with plenty of time to get changed and arrange some transport down to the gym. Turns out living in a floating fortress was a bit inconvenient, at times.

I really needed to sort something out there, get some transportation of my own. Maybe I could get wings? Some of the armours Eyon had showed me had decorative wings on them, but perhaps I could get some real ones? Or maybe a jetpack? But then, it would be a bit inconvenient to have to put on my armour to go out.

Eyon, what are my options for getting to and from Valhalla? Anything affordable available?

[From is easy enough. There are a variety of descent options, like parachutes and lowgrav-equivalents. To is a bit trickier. Your cheapest option, if you strictly want to use it for in-city transportation, is a hoverbike.]

And how much would that cost?

[Two hundred points for a catalogue, and one to two-hundred points for the bike, depending on your needs.]

I looked at my remaining points, then thought of the purchases I still wanted to make. It didn't seem like I had the points to spare.

What about if I get a civilian model? Like, the ones couriers use. I should be able to get dispensation, being a Valkyrie, right?

I could almost feel Eyon wince.

[I cannot in good conscience recommend that.]

It cannot be that bad. Regular people use civilian hovervehicles all the time!

[They also fall out of the sky all the time.]

That barely ever happens.

[Our definitions of 'barely' seem to differ somewhat.]

Okay, what if I get one of those descent options as well, for safety? Like a one use parachute sort of thing. How much would one of those cost?

[I guess that is a workable solution. Fifty points for a catalogue, twenty for a single use safety item.]

Okay! Put that on the list, let me see if I can arrange for a hoverbike license.

[May I have permission to consult Myrai?]

Eh, I guess? Why?

Ten seconds later, I got a call from Val. I picked up, curious what she wanted all of a sudden.

"Sylvi, I hear you're planning to get a hoverbike, is that right? And a civilian model at that?" She didn't sound pleased.

"Eh, yes?"

"You know they call those splatbikes, right? For the sound the driver makes when they fall to the ground."

"I was going to get a safety device as well." I defended myself.

"Oh sweetie. Why didn't you just ask? If you want to be able to get to and from Valhalla, we have plenty of solutions, and none of them involve you having to cling to a metal bar."

"Oh."

"I was going to give you your own van anyway. So you can start making the resupply runs."

"I... what?"

"You know, that gopher work I was talking about? I wasn't kidding when I said you need to start earning your keep around here. Where do you think all that metal you've been using comes from? Or the food you've been eating?"

"Ehhh..."

"Soon, it'll be coming in thanks to you! Aren't you glad to be able to contribute?"

"Sure?" I hedged.

"Sylvi, you're supposed to protest, say you didn't sign up for this."

"But, it seems fair? I'm not just going to free-load off of you all!"

She sighed. "That's very nice of you. In any event, it isn't too onerous a task. We usually only have pickups once or twice a week. We batch them up, you see."

"Okay. I can do that."

"Good. Thank you. You can borrow one of the vans in the hangar for today. I'll send over the unlock codes and such. If you have any requests for van colours or designs, have Eyon send them over to Myrai."

"I think something nondescript would be best." I said.

"I'm glad you agree. I'll have it look like the others, then. In which case I guess you can just join the regular van pool, unless you want to have one for yourself?"

"No, that sounds fine."

"Okay. Have you talked to Katherine yet? She asked me if I'd seen you earlier."

"No, I've been…"

"Have you been avoiding her?" She said with a smile in her voice.

"No! It's just, ugh. It's different now, okay?"

"Ooh, I cannot wait 'till dinner tonight. You're going to be adorable." She laughed.

"I'll hide in the city, see if I don't." I said darkly.

"Sure thing, sweetie. You enjoy your time in the city, alright? I'll see you for dinner."

"Yeah. See you." I mumbled.

She disconnected, and I was left staring at nothing.

[Seems your transportation troubles are solved.] Eyon said, all innocently.