[Objective granted: kill the player known as Chief Sebastian, and become the patron of Nassau. Reward: a large boost of settlement favor]

Blake watched the ghostly text appear before his eyes as Garet and the others left. The patron part both excited and concerned him, as he wasn’t sure it was feasible. Even if Mason didn’t want it—which Blake was sure he didn’t—in this world it might take a man like him to bind the players together. Could Blake handle being the man behind the throne? He wasn’t so sure. The only thing he knew about ‘settlement favor’ is that he wanted it.

“That was amazing!” Seul-ki’s beautiful green eyes sparkled as she clung to Blake’s arm.

“Yes it was,” said Haley, with a lot less enthusiasm. “You can manipulate minds?”

“Sometimes,” Blake shrugged, like it was no big deal. Haley obviously felt otherwise.

“You can do that to anyone? Civilians too?”

Again Blake shrugged non-committally, and the French girl gave him a look like a stern mother. “Well.” Blake cleared his throat. “I’d best not be here when the soldiers come back. I’ll go to my house. But I’ll be ready when you need me. Thank you, Haley, you were very useful back there.”

“You don’t have to thank me,” she said. “I’m here for Mason. Just like you.”

Blake let that go, though he wanted to laugh in her face. What could she know about two little orphan boys together against the world? What could anyone? Instead he smiled pleasantly and offered Seul-ki his arm, walking back into the street like nothing in the world was amiss.

“Your powers are growing quickly,” she whispered.

“As are yours.”

She frowned and scrunched up her fake nose. “Not enough. I’m nearly drained. I’m going to drop my disguise as soon as we’re home because it takes a little to maintain.”

“Please be my guest. If anyone comes you can run to your room.”

They walked the short distance to their own house, Nassau even more silent than usual with the many players outside the walls or holed up with the chief. All the civilians had been ordered to stay inside, and it resembled a ghost town. Blake imagined it entirely differently—not gripped by fear, but filled with life and families, rebuilding all the things that made life beautiful, like a good woman on your arm. They arrived at the house, and Blake gestured Seul-ki through.

She stepped inside and instantly removed her disguise—long hair falling from the faux bun, every facial feature softening and turning more symmetrical. She watched his face during the change, her expression impossible to read.

“You really are truly beautiful, Seul-ki,” he said honestly. “I’m so pleased your eyes are the same. They’re always mesmerizing.”

Seul-ki glanced away shyly. “Korean men are not so bold,” she played with her hands. “And most Korean women don’t like such directness.”

“And you?” he smiled, already knowing the answer. “Do you like it?”

“I’m not sure,” she said, but he knew otherwise. Though he was surprised when she confirmed it. “Perhaps a little.”

He was sorely tempted to use his power again, but it didn’t work terribly well on her, and frankly he just didn’t have the mana.

“Do you use your power on me?” she asked suddenly, and Blake blanked as she met his eyes.

“I…”

She snorted. “It’s alright. I don’t mind.”

Few people could make Blake Nimitz speechless. It seemed Seul-ki was one. After a pause that was far too long to be natural, he swallowed and managed: “You don’t?”

“No.” She looked away. “My disguise is uncomfortable. Would you mind if I went to my room and removed it?”

“Of course. Please.” He gestured. Seul-ki bowed slightly and opened her door but didn’t close it behind. She pulled off the baggy sweater and windbreakerish pants, leaving her in tight black slacks and the chest wrapping she hated. She looked into her mirror and slowly began to loosen it.

“I find it…difficult,” she said, “to warm up to people. In a way, I think I hoped you would help break down some of my walls with your magic. Already I find I…care for you. I think of you as a friend. Usually that would take me years.”

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Blake was standing in her doorway, watching her undress, and just couldn’t help himself. “Just as a friend?”

The beautiful girl looked at him quickly then back at her mirror. “Until you saw what I really looked like, I do not think you desired me as more than a friend.”

He nodded, not interested in lying...at least not right now...and took a few steps closer. “True. But I thought you were astounding. Your unusual class, your abilities. I wanted you by my side, as a friend, and an ally, to the very end of this game.”

She stopped unwrapping and looked down as if shy again, but Blake just kept talking.

“Moments after we met, I’d planned to share everything with you, to ensure you felt it was fair, to bind your fate to me.” He surprised himself by being so open, but all of that was true. He’d known instantly what an utter gem he’d found in Seul-ki, no matter how she looked. “That you turned out to be beautiful, and that I desire you…it just makes you all the more precious,” he said at last, his heart beating faster in his chest.

Seul-ki smiled and met his eyes. “I think I would like that. To be part of your plans. Your little tribe.”

With an American woman the invitation was clear, but with a girl like this Blake didn’t know the rules. He crossed the distance between them, putting his hand to the girl’s face. She didn’t stop him or pull away, and he leaned in to kiss her. Her lips were as soft and inviting as they looked. She didn’t open her mouth, and her hands were still clinging to the wrappings around her chest.

She closed her eyes, and opened her lips, moaning as Blake slid his tongue inside. Very slowly, he took her hands in his, letting the wrappings slide and fall down around her legs, revealing her surprisingly large, soft breasts.

“My God,” he whispered, kissing her ear and down to her neck. She had closed her eyes now, breathing hard and making little whimpers as his lips touched her flawless skin. She was so short he had to kneel, continuing down her collarbone to between her breasts, rubbing her perky nipples with his thumbs. “You’re so sexy.”

“Oh,” she said, opening her eyes and looking suddenly shy. He cursed himself for saying the wrong thing.

“I didn’t mean…we shouldn’t…your stresses are enough already…”

He stood back up and put his arms around her, meeting her eyes. “You are not one of my stresses. You’re the exact opposite.”

She smiled and stood on her toes to kiss him again, then bit her lip and drummed her fingers on his waist. “I’m sorry, but we can’t have sex.” Blake had to admit, that was a wee bit of a disappointment. He clearly hadn’t maintained a perfect poker face, as Seul-ki winced and shifted almost like she’d stomped a foot. “Please understand, I respect and admire you very much, but I can only have sex once I’m married.”

“I understand,” he said reflexively, doing his best to inform his libido this wasn’t going to happen. “You don’t have to explain,” he reached out a hand, and Seul-ki bit her lip and hesitated but still came forward. He pulled her small body into his lap like a kid on Santa’s knee, then wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. It was a perfect moment, and he didn’t want to ruin it. He lifted her to the bed and lay down.

“We don’t have much time,” he whispered. “Try to sleep, and regain a little mana. Then we’ll go and…bring this all to an end.”

She cuddled into his arms, and with a wave of will he forced himself not to react to the closeness of her body. He closed his eyes, and slept.

Blake woke to a dull light and with Seul-ki at his side. She was still topless, black hair spread everywhere. He did his best not to look at the swell of her hips and the tight fit of her slacks. She wanted a husband. But what exactly the hell that meant in their current circumstances he had no idea. Not like there was a church or a temple around to tie the knot. But ultimately he knew what she meant: a man who committed to her for life.

Was he the type to ever do that? The idea practically repulsed him on instinct. And yet…he was ready to commit to her for the life of the game just for her class abilities. Sure, that was more like…a retainer. An underling. And a wife was a whole different thing. But then what the hell did Blake know about wives.

Seul-ki sighed and moaned slightly, shifting against him as she yawned.

“What time is it?”

He’d glanced at the clock and knew only about two hours had past, and said so.

“How’s your mana?”

“Nearing eighty percent,” she said.

Blake nodded. They both recovered extremely quickly, which he suspected was a huge advantage at every stage of the game. It was certainly life or death now.

“We can wait a little longer. But once it’s ninety or so we should probably go take a look around, get some more work done.”

“OK.” She pushed back to cuddle against him, and he fought his lust as best he could.

“Tell me about your family,” Blake prompted, trying to think of anything except what Seul-ki looked like naked. “Is there anyone you would like to find? Anyone you care about before the world…you know, changed?”

Seul-ki tensed a little in his arms, then shook her head. “The short answer is no. My family wasn’t…I wouldn’t like to find them. One day perhaps we can speak of it, but not today.”

He held her, and kissed her neck. “The past is the past. I won’t ask again.”

She turned and smiled at him, closing her eyes at his kisses. “The past is the past. Yes. I like that very much.”

He felt almost compelled to logically dismantle her ‘husband’ argument, but fought the very stupid urge.

“Pretty boy!” The chief’s voice called from outside, and Blake froze. The chief had never come for him personally before. Was that good or bad? Almost certainly bad. Could his allies have betrayed him? Unlikely, but yes. If so, he had to run. Except he couldn’t. Was Mason just outside?

“Get your disguise ready.” Blake and Seul-ki leapt out of bed, and Blake quickly dressed and straightened himself as he called: “I was asleep, Chief. I’ll be right there.”

Decision to take his chances made, he took a deep breath and plastered on his winningest smile, then unlocked the front door and opened it.

“Chief. I was beginning to think you’d forgotten about me. How can I assist?”

The big man was alone and without his shield, which was a very good sign. But his eyes were red and bruised with exhaustion and probably perpetual rage.

“Time’s up,” he said with a tone far more subdued then when he was in his hall and with the others. “I want the civilians to bind slave contracts. Right now. Or you die.”