What the hell does she want now? Almost every day Marci had tried to get him to go places that he simply didn’t have the time, or energy, to go. Theo was tired, exhausted really, and in no mood to get up early today of all days. His professors were hounding him for assignments, and his mother wouldn’t stop bugging him about why he hadn’t considered an internship with the military reserve staff.

He started to worry that somehow his mother knew about his expedition, and didn’t approve. She had never been so insistent before about him spending time with her in the administrative office, and that was worrying.

He ignored half the messages on his phone, but found that Marci wasn’t so easy to escape from. She reached out to him again that morning; calling, texting, then banging on his door until he finally answered.

Being told he was needed for ‘an impromptu expedition meeting’ at the cafe, Theo begrudgingly decided to entertain her. It wasn’t like he could go back to sleep anyway, and besides, he hoped Lorelei would be there. He only wished he hadn’t had so much to drink the night before, looking over to the half empty bottle of fire whiskey, he yet again made a promise never to drink again.

Due to Voxsturm’s unique geographical situation, there were only so many ingredients available for fermenting alcohol. Yeast was in short supply, grain was practically as valuable as gold, and both their production was tightly regulated by the farming districts. That left hops, which was hardier, and a bit easier to grow, given the soil composition within the vast canyon.

Calling the alcohol ‘whiskey’ was a callback to spirits of the old world, it was the same for vodka and gin. In actuality, however, the drink was produced from a mixture of hops, spices, and herbs. There was a time when Theo considered going into the alcohol business, learning just how the fermentation process worked, which was largely a closely guarded secret by the brewery guilds.

Aged and triple filtered, the whiskey was a thick substance, with a rich cinnamon aftertaste that rolled off the tongue. It was also rather strong, strong enough to make him regret his life choices upon waking up.

Despite the wicked hangover, a thought brushed his mind just before getting dressed. He grabbed the small parcel on his desk, before stumbling his way out the door, and marching toward the cafe.

He wasn’t the biggest fan of the Universities Coffee Joint, preferring instead another more secluded cafe closer to his home outside of campus. But still, he wasn’t against the idea of meeting up there. If only they new how to make a decent espresso.

Once inside the university cafe he was welcomed by the pleasant nutty aroma of fresh coffee beans. The smell of coffee was ripe in the air, and seemed to simmer in the small confines of the room. He expected to find Mike there, and was genuinely surprised to see Marci was alone…with Lorelei…handcuffed to a table?

"Why is she..." He started to ask, only for Marci to shoot him a smug grin.

"Had to do something drastic, just talk to her."

Theo’s throat felt parched, not knowing what to do. He got the sudden feeling that he was trodding hollowed ground as he slowly walked to Lorelei’s table. It almost felt like he was wandering a mine field. He swallowed, not sure what he just stumbled upon. He chose a cautious approach, slowly wandering to the booth, and choosing a seat across from the Redever girl.

Lorelei was frozen stiff, her eyes in and out of focus. Theo realized he hadn’t gotten such a close look at her since carrying her from the Darling Blossom. Her pink skin seemed a shade darker, healthier. Her hair was recently washed, and her uniform was neatly pressed. It was never easy, being so close to such a beautiful woman, but Theo could tell she was far more anxious than he.

"You...ok...Lori?" He asked, still not sure if he should do something about the handcuff.

She jerked in her seat, and yipped at him saying her name. Almost sub-consciously Lorelei kept yanking her wrist, tugging the handcuff as if she could somehow break it. Marci clearly knew her stuff, the ward placed on the metal barely fizzled under duress.

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"I'm fine," Lorelei finally whimpered with a slight tremble. "Just got caught up in some things I wasn't expecting..." Her words were stilted, but she seemed otherwise unharmed physically.

"So you're all right?" Theo asked awkwardly.

"Yes…all good,” Lorelei responded, with an eerie quivering smile.

It was then that a server approached, a rather short woman with a plain, but not unattractive, face and a small tray in hand. She noticing the handcuff on Lorelei’s wrist, and was immediately disturbed, her eyes darted back and forth.

"I genuinely have no idea what's going on," Theo sensed the servers sudden apprehension towards him.

"My damn roommate handcuffed me, just a stupid prank." Lorelei groaned. “Could you please pretend like you didn’t see it?”

Sitting the coffee mug down on Lorelei's side of the table, the server looked at Theo again before slowly backing away.

"You both are going to get me in so much trouble.” Theo leaned back in the cushioned seating. He could practically feel the eyes glaring into the back of his head from the server. "Ten clits she's calling security right now."

"Sorry!" Lorelei franticly apologized. "This is all my fault."

"No it's Marci's, but I'm glad we can finally talk." Theo leaned forward. "So...can I ask you something?"

"Sure,” She replied, nodding her head. Using her free hand, she picked up the mug before her, and tried to bring it to her lips without shaking it too much.

Theo reached out, helping to hold the coffee mug still. Once she had a long sip, he helped place it back down on the solid surface of the table before asking his question. “Hey…a long time ago, I helped someone that reminds me a lot of you. I...damn this is awkward, but…is there a chance you and I met before?”

Lorelei swallowed, her eyes remained fixed on the mug of coffee. It took a long time before she found the courage to speak, and probably a little longer to discern what she was going to say. The server girl strode past their booth more than once during that time, her eyes glaring between Theo and the handcuffed girl across from him.

Theo let Lorelei take her time, in the meantime he kept trying to find Marci, eyeing the entire cafe, in hopes that maybe she could relieve the tension between him and the cafe’s staff.

Eventually, Lorelei straightened her posture, and dared to flash her eyes toward him, if only for a second. “We don’t have to tell each other anything, but if you know who I am, could you please explain to me why you would help someone like me?”

Theo thought about that for a minute, having accepted what he already knew. This had to be the same girl he pulled out of the street so many years ago. Even she must’ve felt nervous brushing the subject, bringing up the past, but staring at the truth right in front of him, Theo’s heart leapt in his chest.

Strangely, he never contemplated the question before. Thinking back when he first met her, in a dingy back alley one rainy night, he still wasn’t sure he had a good answer. “Have you ever just had a feeling, something that you couldn’t really explain, or put into words. Almost like you’re being drawn to something that you can’t even see, like gravity tugging you in a different direction?”

Lorelei’s cheeks warmed, she did kinda know what he was talking about.

Theo continued, “I guess that’s the best answer I’ve got, and besides, how could I not help something so beautiful?”

Lorelei looked up, her face was practically on fire.

“Also, I’ve always thought your horns were cute,” Theo was starting to sound awkward. His hand was scratching at the back of his neck.

Lorelei was confused about that. Redever males were often drawn to a females horns, even though they also had them. To hear a human say that confounded her. “You…like my horns? Hmm…” Lorelei couldn’t help but chuckle at that. “Ok, I’m glad you like them.”

“Also I could get used to how your tail gloms onto me,” Theo grinned.

“What?” Lorelei stiffened. She looked down under the table, and realized her tail was practically wrapped around his leg. “Crap sorry! I swear it has a mind of its own!”

“I don’t mind,” Theo laughed.

----------------------------------------

As the two of them continued to converse, Marci sat in a hidden booth on the other side of the cafe. Sitting next to her, Mike couldn’t stop grinning to himself.

Marci stirred her drink, while watching her best friend and roommate finally laughing for the first time. She rarely ever saw Lorelei smile like that, and it was fun to watch Theo’s reaction to it.

“And with that, we’ve finally made progress,” She sighed, looking over to Mike, who was so hungover it was a miracle she dragged him out of bed. “You watching this?”

Mike nodded. “Now all we need is to get her into intramural sports,” he teased.

“Why do men always want to see us in skimpy uniforms?” Marci knew the answer, but liked poking fun.

“Because you look really good in it?” He blushed.

“Ahem?”

“I mean you look good in literally anything,” Mike scoffed.

Marci’s serpentine lower half curled around Mikes legs, “Better.”

“So are you gonna go over there and take her handcuff off?” Mike asked.

Marci thought about that for a second. She finished her drink before answering. “Let’s give them another five minutes. Just to make sure she can’t run off again. We should at least wait until Theo gives her that little gift in his coat pocket.”

“How do you know it’s a gift for her?”

“Please,” Marci chuckled. “Like a grown man would carry around something wrapped in dandelion wrapping paper for himself.”