After all the players were gone, Mason forced himself to sit at the conference room table and go through his patron options in excruciating detail. The Nexus was essentially a separate entity, so he had to decide to improve it or the settlement. But for the moment it didn't really seem like the Nexus needed much improvement, as they couldn't really use the tools they had.

Mason decided already he wanted to save at least half his points until after the communication beacons activated. Maybe after talking to other settlements he'd realize he needed different things, or they might learn new options. He might need to spend points on communication, or possibly the teleportation device to increase its size or speed.

He just didn't know, and it seemed like a bad idea to commit too early just to impress people. Especially since he expected the tree city would be impressive enough.

There was also the matter of his 'Prestige' and House options. But it seemed like Prestige by itself wasn't actually all that useful in terms of House upgrades. The other metric, which basically limited all the choices he could actually buy with Prestige, was a function of time. The House of Mason, in other words, couldn't get any of the better upgrades until it was...

Mason grinned.

What was it Dariya had said when Naya absolved her House? That Mason's house was 'younger than her indigestion?'

Turned out that mattered. For the moment, all Mason's lovely Prestige from all his House members didn't do him a hell of a lot of good. But he hoped that would change in months, rather than years.

What he had to decide on was what was 'needed' and what was 'wanted'. They had enough defence for now, that was clear. They had a settlement that should be plenty to attract literally any players or civilians who could get to them. They had a training hall to help their lower level players, a teleportation device and beacon to return to, and an infirmary to help heal the wounded.

They lacked crafter buildings and tools. They had a pack of wild wolves that needed something more suitable. And they needed to explore the world better and faster to start exploiting every opportunity they could.

Mason sighed as he read the description of the elven Oracle Stone, and the other elven item, the Scout Enclave. The first seemed to both give remote exploration options and also 'profile' options, possibly to help guide people through their classes.

The second would let his people map the world a bit like Kiaan or Mason's Wayfinder, all their experience adding to a global map. And it probably did even more for something like a scout.

He knew he should be happy he had options, but giving the elves their buildings before a lot of his own people wasn't great. At the end of the day, though, reality was reality, and the elves just had things he needed. He added both to the 'need' column, and their 'moon temple' to the wants.

A 'Menagerie' for the wolves and hopefully other animals went to the 'need'. After that, Mason picked his way through the civilian list and added a handful of things to the 'need'. But he knew he needed to talk to them and get a better sense of what was critical and what could wait.

On the other hand, as he started adding up the costs, he soon realized...he had a lot. Like a lot a lot. As in he could probably give everyone what they wanted. Twice.

So, that was a thing, and definitely meant he'd be able to keep a shitload of points going into the 'next phase' after beacon activation.

He knew he was probably…cheap by nature. The mentality of being an orphan with nothing had never really gone away, despite spending the majority of his life with wealthy parents who would have bought him anything. He had never asked, and took most of what they gave with a strange feeling of accepting a bribe. It had never been fair or made sense, but change was difficult.

By the time Mason had finished reading the details of all the choices, and going through the many options they couldn't buy or hadn't chosen, he realized the sun was rising.

He expected Haley and the others would think he'd spent the night with Naya, and Naya would think he spent the night with them. As he stretched his back with a crack and stood, he wished either was true. But he knew it was important he gain at least a little knowledge about actually administering his settlements.

In fact he had a lot more reading to do, especially about his House. There were all kinds of rules, titles, and allowances. He also needed to start picking people as a kind of 'council', which might be smart to do before things got more complicated. As he looked at the positions he realized he already sort of had. Or at least he'd started.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The official positions gave boosts to the people in them, though, and also to Mason depending on who he picked. He shook his head as he looked at the names. 'Chancellor', which seemed to be a kind of second in command. 'Minister of the Treasury', 'Minister of War', 'Minister of Tomes', 'Spymaster', 'High Priest'.

Jesus. High Priest? His mind went to Alex but did he really need some kind of religious institution?

There were also a dozen lesser titles, some with names he didn't even understand. What the hell was a 'Seneschal'?

Apparently it was someone appointed to look after Mason's house, which he supposed made sense for Haley but didn't seem important enough.

He closed the options and blinked tired eyes, deciding mostly he needed to get the main positions sorted before worrying about the rest.

His mind was still a bit worn from the experience with Eve and the nymphs as he learned runes. Yet another giant realm of knowledge he needed to learn.

In fact he should probably be staring at rocks and clouds and contemplating the universe all day. Instead he had to read about Cupbearers and Masters of Horse. He hadn't even seen a damn horse. Unless you counted centaurs.

His body wasn't tired, though, and Mason left the beacon then leapt at a nearby tree without even hesitating. He gripped with fingers like iron, kicking off with a push and soon a flip to grab another. He jumped back and forth with a laugh, the stress of the future melting away with the effort.

He looked at the hundred foot drop and shivered as the fear raced down his spine. Knowing it wouldn't kill him didn't take away the primal reaction, though it was a disturbing thought to realize one day it might.

He was back on the ground in less than a minute, scanning the old, silent settlement as he took deep breaths of cool, morning air. He smelled Haley before he saw her, talking to the old fisherman with a smile. She looked up and met his eyes, for a moment seemingly not accepting it was really him. He grinned, and felt some of his worrying drain in Haley's radiant smile.

She excused herself, and the fisherman turned and gave Mason a friendly nod. Then he was crossing the ground and scooping his blonde beauty into his arms and lifting her high enough she shrieked.

"I missed you," she said as he lowered her down and kissed her.

"Haven't moved to the bigger hall up there?" he gestured towards the Nexus with his eyes.

"Of course I have." She gave him a classic 'you stupid, simple American man' sort of look. "All your human girls are in the new hall. And Lexi. Who I already count." She grinned as Mason rolled his eyes, running her hands up his arms. "There's all kinds of lovely things. A nice, big bath. A bigger bed. And you should see the kitchen!"

"Why am I not surprised that's what has you most excited."

"Oh. I don't know about that." Haley bit her lip and squeezed a bicep with a sigh. "But no time for such things. The beacons activate today. Well, tonight. At about nine PM. Have you looked through the lists? I can brief you, or..."

"I've seen them. And I won't bother asking how you know the exact time," Mason said. "I think basically we can do everything. If you think that's a good idea. We can afford it all."

"Really?" Haley grinned. "Yes, I do, actually. Well...the only problem is people thinking they'll always get everything. But that's a small enough problem. Can we really afford it all?"

"And then some." Mason winked. "But don't tell anyone."

"My lips are sealed," Haley said, and Mason ran a finger across them.

"I certainly hope not."

Then he was melting into her again, hands drifting down her back when he felt/heard/smelled Streak a second before the wolf struck.

He had to push Haley back before the wolf slammed into him, actually knocking him down as he growl whined and started licking and play-biting anything he could catch.

"God damnit, Streak," he said with a laugh, wrapping his arms around the wolf's torso to grapple it and roll. It took considerable effort to wrestle him off and get him subdued, the wolf immediately flopping over for belly rubs when defeated.

Haley knelt and joined in with a smile.

"Our big, hairy, terrifying baby," she said, then put a hand to her stomach.

"How are you feeling?" Mason asked, and Haley's wide smile as usual knocked him a bit senseless.

"Too busy to worry. And we still need to plan an actual wedding with Naya. I was hoping before the beacon, but...I don't think that's possible now."

She didn't bother adding 'because you took so long', Mason decided, and appreciated. He shrugged.

"Cancel it for all I care. But I'll bring Naya to the hall. I don't give enough shits to keep up any kind of appearances."

"As you say, my lord," Haley lowered her eyes.

Mason pulled her in for a squeeze, deciding he didn't feel like waiting to talk to the civilians. He pulled open his settlement options, selected literally everything the others had asked for, and gave it universal approval.

"We're going to have a couple hours of peace, at least," Mason said, taking Haley's hand and leaving a whining Streak as he walked for the nearest platform lift.

"Oh? How do you expect we'll..."

The system blared like a trumpet, warning everyone to get inside as the settlement went through a series of changes. Mason grinned, wiggling his brow at Haley.

"Wakey wakey," he said, thinking of all the citizens of Nassau panicking at the sound.

"You are a very cruel master, my lord," she said, giving him a look that could melt steel.

He picked up the pace towards the platform, then considered carrying Haley over a shoulder before he reminded himself to work on patience. Instead he just lifted her into his arms, kissing her as he tried to shut out all intrusive thoughts.

He looked out over the forest as the lift carried them into the air, his beautiful woman's legs wrapped around his chest.

It was going to be a busy day, he decided, but a good one. For him. And maybe even for mankind.

There weren't too many of those so far in the post-apocalypse. A man had to savor them when he could.