4.08 – Casual

Zoey and Sabina hammered out the details for a potential business plan. In broad strokes, true, but also in a way that suggested this might come to pass and wasn’t fanciful musing.

The two important items that needed to be handled was finding a stall or small storefront in the redlight district—the scandalous nature of their merchandise wouldn’t be allowed in the general marketplaces—as well as finding an employee for selling the potions, since neither Zoey nor Sabina wanted to handle that task. Zoey, because she had other things to be doing, and Sabina, because she would be busy brewing and handling her other duties—along with her dislike for customer-facing responsibilities.

Zoey was excited for the business to take off, and intended to move from ‘planning’ to ‘reality’ as quickly as she could. First, because the money would be nice. Finances hadn’t been a problem, but she didn’t have so much she could buy whatever she wanted, either. The same for Rosalie. Zoey could tell by the way she acted that her family was rich, likely filthy rich, but she didn’t have access to those funds, right now. And sure, that would change in a few short weeks, when they set off to Mantle, but even if Rosalie was willing to keep Zoey supplied, Zoey would prefer she had her own source of income. Mooching of her now-girlfriend would feel weird.

But besides the money, Zoey looked forward to the project for other reasons. A simple sense of excitement to name one, getting to watch and participate in a growing venture, and besides that, a way to keep Sabina better supplied. Sabina had quickly become a friend, and opening up a way for her to pursue her passions was something that interested Zoey on its own merit.

Though, what would happen when they left? Set off to Mantle? All things considered, two weeks was no time at all, on the scale of ‘setting up a business’. She’d blink, and it would be time to leave—thus splitting apart the business if Sabina wasn’t interested in coming along.

Zoey had felt the situation out. Sabina, apparently, didn’t have any major ties holding her down. She’d been renting her storefront for two years, and had grown accustomed to it—and made business contacts, established a routine—but she didn’t have family, or … well, even many friends, to put things bluntly. As long as Sabina had a place to be conducting her research, and the supplies to do so, that was all that mattered.

So in that regard, if their test-run with a lewd potion stall in the redlight district worked out, and they raked in money, then Sabina indicated she’d be willing to relocate. It had been an awkward topic to broach, though, outright asking Sabina if she’d be willing to move cities with her. They’d only known each other a few days.

Ultimately, it depended on how the business worked out.

After her lessons and discussions with Sabina, Zoey headed back to the Guild for more of the same—tutelage—except with Maddy. It was the routine she’d be following for the rest of their break in Treyhull, probably. Mornings with Sabina, late morning and afternoon with Maddy, then her evenings free, to handle whatever else needed taken care of.

Lessons with Maddy went well. They worked on the ice armor spell, which she managed to fully manifest, though not with any amazing efficiency. Certainly, not at a level appropriate to venturing out to second or third advancement shards.

But she was making strides, according to Maddy. It was hard to tell if that praise was genuine, or just Maddy being a sweetheart, but Zoey took pride in it anyway. She was trying her hardest, so she might as well take the encouragement for what it was.

Not that she’d sit back and be satisfied with herself, growing complacent. If she wanted a career with Rosalie and Delta, then she had to become a competent adventurer. To push herself. Sure, her class gave her overpowered skills, but that wasn’t enough.

Doubly so because of the danger. As they worked their way up the advancement ladder, shards would become more and more of a deadly threat to her teammates. It would be Zoey’s job, in some part, to keep them safe. And keeping Rosalie and Delta safe? Obviously high on the priority list. Higher than anything else.

By the time the second magic lesson was wrapped up, Zoey had a shaky, if consistent, hold on the ice armor spell. While ice shards were massively easier to fling, they were also a crude ability. Which didn’t mean it was a bad skill. Swinging a hammer could be ‘crude’ compared to some finesse-based weapons, but still effective. Ice armor, on the other hand, was far more difficult to bring to life—but much more useful. As long as she kept her ice armor manifested, if an attack slipped past Rosalie, Zoey should be able to take the attack without her transmigration through worlds coming to an abrupt end.

She and Maddy also started on a few other manifestations of her ice-related abilities. She made little progress there, but with luck—and a lot of work—Zoey might have an ‘ice wall’ and a ‘frost’ spell ready for the next shard. The former for utility, the latter as a debuff—to lock up enemies with a debilitating sheen of frost.

Finally, in the cool-down period, she invited Maddy out for drinks with her, Rosalie, and Delta. She accepted eagerly. It might just be her generally affable nature, but Zoey thought Maddy liked her company as much as Zoey did hers. Besides being a friendly and encouraging tutor, Zoey just liked the bubbly girl. She was a bit … dorky and excitable, at times, tripping over her words in her eagerness to get them out, but it was endlessly endearing, not annoying. How could anyone be annoyed by Maddy? She was a ball of sunshine.

Her training responsibilities completed for the day, and with only an hour or two before the sun would set, Zoey headed back to her room to get ready for their outing. Rosalie wasn’t there, but would be shortly; they’d discussed timing that morning.

Before Zoey knew it, the four of them were cluttered into a booth, one or two drinks deep, a mild buzz having settled into her. Rosalie sat to her side, absently swirling a glass of dark liquor. She’d had the least to drink tonight, and Delta the most … though Delta didn’t seem affected in the slightest, despite that.

The goal wasn’t really to get wasted, despite how Delta had framed the initial invitation that way. Zoey didn’t plan on having more than a few drinks. A step past a buzz, maybe, but definitely not well and truly drunk. Because she had plans tonight. Ones she’d prefer to be mostly sober for.

Speaking of …

“Who won, anyway?” Zoey asked. She’d been waiting to bring the topic up, because she figured there were good odds it would have Rosalie and Delta bickering. Since they’d settled into easy conversation, having relaxed around each other, it ought not to cause too much friction.

Delta grinned, and Rosalie frowned. That was answer enough, but Delta obviously wouldn’t leave it implied.

“Who do you think?” Delta asked. “I called it as it happened. Turns out miss princess is real distractible. Big shocker.”

Rosalie narrowed her eyes, and Zoey could see there was some real offense taken. She didn’t like her combat abilities being called into question, being called ‘distractible’, even in such an absurd situation as ‘strip spars’.

“I didn’t expect you to be so shameless about it,” Rosalie mumbled, cheeks turning red. She brought her drink to her lips, obviously buying an excuse to not elaborate.

“You didn’t?” Delta asked. “It’s almost like you’re not trying to get to know me.” A grin, the fox-eared girl leaning forward on her elbows.

“Eh?” Maddy asked, cutting in and blinking at the two of them. “What are you guys talking about?”

Zoey paused. It wasn’t that she’d forgotten Maddy was seated at the booth with them, rather, that she’d grown comfortable with her. She’d forgotten it might be inappropriate to bring up Rosalie and Delta’s spar.

Delta was the one who answered, and like usual, without missing a beat. She leaned close to the blue haired girl. “Me and blondie played a match of strip spars. Now she owes me a favor.”

Maddy blushed, obviously not having expected the response. Her eyes flicked from Rosalie and back to Delta. “Oh. I, uh. I see.”

“It came down to the wire,” Delta continued easily. Her lack of shame seemed to help Maddy’s awkwardness, but not smooth it away entirely. As Zoey already knew, Maddy wasn’t the most casual person when it came to lewd topics. It was definitely the biggest hurdle for getting her to join the squad. “I had to really work for the win,” Delta said. Then in a stage-whisper, leaning closer to Maddy, she said, “And between me and you, she threw the fight. She wanted me to have the favor, because she likes being bossed around.”

“I do not,” Rosalie protested. She glared at Delta, then, for no discernible reason, turned the look to Zoey. What had Zoey done? “Next topic, please,” Rosalie said.

Zoey squeezed her knee, amused—and like usual, finding Rosalie’s blushing adorable—but came to her rescue. Like she’d already figured, talking about this, and what Delta’s favor would be, should happen away from Maddy.

Except, when Zoey opened her mouth to turn the conversation away from the topic, Maddy cut in.

“So, um,” she started hesitantly. “What’s it like, anyway? Your, uh. Shard? And … and Zoey’s class. And all that. I don’t know that much about it, and I probably should, in case we team up.”

Maddy was a fidgety girl by her nature, wearing her emotions on her sleeve. She was genuinely embarrassed when it came to this topic. But at the same time, something else was obvious: the interested tilt in her voice, and the way she leaned forward in her seat, curious, even as she blushed.

“Yeah, we should probably talk about it,” Delta said, giving Zoey a significant look. As Zoey had, Delta had picked up that Maddy’s red cheeks weren’t entirely from awkwardness. “We’ll let the woman herself handle it. Zoey?”

It was on her, then? That was fair. She had to make sure she handled the explanation well. Getting Maddy into the party was a priority that grew with every passing lesson. Zoey liked her. And she was competent—that was important, too.

“Well,” Zoey said. “I guess I’ll start with my class.”