For Those Who Move Forward

Mercury frowned, even as Mythal voiced the question that ran through her mind.

The change in pace had been nice. While she certainly had nothing against New Rhaegar – far from it – it was nice to be someplace that was so closely associated with Genesis. Dina had handled the news about the homunculus’ death well, all things considered, but it was clear she was heartbroken over the loss of her friend. His arrest had left room for him to someday return, as much of a long shot as that might have been, and she had not been prepared to learn of his passing within two days of his departure. Mercury and Serilda had delivered the news together, and in so doing Dina had thanked them by offering to host their debrief, since she’d inherited the casino from him.

It was in one of the meeting rooms inside Castelo Nas Nuvens where they currently sat, with Blade opening things up to confirm that perhaps Maker’s lies hadn’t been quite as fabricated as they had once believed. The director asked for an explanation, prompting Blade to state that Maker’s claims about the Terran’s designs for galactic control were actually more in line with the truth than they had originally believed, which he had confirmed with Knowhere. Or rather Teras, as they apparently had elected to call themselves now. He withdrew a small diamond from a pocket and flicked it into the air, the item stopping itself before it could hit the floor and taking on the form of a humanoid that was vaguely masculine in appearance, though there was no true facial structure, and there seemed to be several voices within its own.

Saffron raised a brow, curious and impressed from where she sat at the table between Cedric and Grubar. Serilda and Dina were equally as interested, though they were more subtle about it than others in the room. Even Khelben sat forward with a studious look. The man had been quite out of his element at not just being out of prison still, but having been taken along for the debrief to the casino.

The only one who seemed to be more muted toward the newcomer’s arrival was, ironically, Mercury. It wasn’t that she wasn’t fascinated; she truly was. She’d gotten some exposure to Knowhere before the attack, and this new form that Quentin had created to host the collective spirits of the Terrans was quite the marvel. Yet she was quiet, her mind stuck on what Blade had told them, with a quiet look of contemplation on her face. The archmage materialized to explain what he had done, at the request of Blade’s people, which he had only managed to do thanks to Khelben’s dedication to getting the work done. The Xocili ducked his head when several eyes glanced his direction, a slight blush rising to his cheeks, the man grateful for the acknowledgement but just as happy for the topic to move along.

The new and improved version of Knowhere was a bit tedious and not what any of them had expected, but it seemed to be what the people had asked for, believing that ultimately they would have found their way to a state such as this on their own had they not been blinded by their mortal natures.

Teras tacked on to the conversation by giving an almost academic run down of Maker’s history, words that Eriledar himself had told her once upon a time. There had been a time that she believed it, only to be assured of his lies once the nature of his blood marker had been revealed, yet here they all were once again painting a picture that had more gray than black and white. Logically, Mercury knew there couldn’t have been any alternate solutions to how things had gone down. Victim or no, Maker made his choices and there were plenty of things he’d done after opening up to Mercury that he could have chosen to not do, had he truly wanted to try at a better life. Namely, attacking Vandrad with Raici… but that didn’t stop the pit that was still forming in her stomach.

The talk went on with Mercury listening in silence, not quite as engaged as the others. She’d been having a rough few days since the fight, not just in recovering her strength but also coping with the loss of Genesis and Maker, and the impending loss of Blade that was drawing ever nearer. Normally in a situation like this she would have been full of ceaseless questions, and likely a number of flirtations, and yet she merely sat in preoccupied quiet.

It was Serilda who spoke next. “It’s certainly odd that Vandrad seemed to be immune to the effect, but I suppose there isn’t much that can be done in the way of research to figure out why, at this point.” Shifting in her seat, the noblewoman turned to face Teras more fully. “I apologize in advance for my forwardness, but given this information I feel that there are some… difficult questions that must be asked, starting first and foremost with what you plan to do from here? Don’t get me wrong, I am glad that we were able to restore you to your souls, but your testimony lends to a number of concerns, not the least of which is the fact that you once were mobilizing toward universal domination. I think it goes without saying that none in this room will stand to allow that. Has your collective consciousness maintained such inclinations..?”

The last thing Saffron really needed was for Trevor and Cedric to meet one another. Not because she was worried about drama. She was certain neither of them would try to out peacock the other or anything stupid like that. No, if anything she knew that if they got along as well as she suspected they would then chances were high they’d team up against her, if only because she was feisty with them both and it would be a great opportunity for the two men to finally get ahead of their verbal spars with her. Regardless, she was up front about everything that had happened with Cedric and her own standing on things, confirming that she did have feelings for Cedric as well but wasn’t planning on acting on them or making any changes to the course she and Trevor were already on.

He took everything in stride, which she was immensely grateful for. It was an uncomfortable position for her to feel like she was caught between the two men, and if either of them had been less understanding than they were, well… she wasn’t sure she’d have been able to handle it at all. Trevor assured her he would do his best not to fuck things up between them. Saffron smirked with amusement, only for her smirk to turn into a laugh when he playfully rolled her onto her back and started asking about boyfriend perks again. “Oh, the boyfriend package comes with a lot of privileges. I’m just not so sure you qualify, yet,” she teased, even as he started kissing his way down her chest. “Get back to me after I’ve had some time to unwind from almost dying and I’ll get back to you.”

Even before the fight with Seberg and Cedric’s confession, Saffron hadn’t quite been ready to put labels on what she had with Trevor, though she’d been starting to consider it. Knowing that her feeling for Cedric were reciprocated certainly made things more difficult for her in that regard, but her slight step back from making things official with Trevor earnestly had more to do with the fact that she had just undergone an extremely traumatic experience and she didn’t want to make any big changes or commitments so soon afterward. She’d seen far too many of her army buddies jump into things that they weren’t ready for or didn’t really want just because they were still riding the adrenaline of fear and not thinking clearly. That wouldn’t be fair to Trevor or to herself. But once she’d had a little bit of time to decompress, well… things were looking favorable.

---

“Ladies, gentlemen, and the fluid gradient in between, please accept my heartfelt thanks for joining us this evening.” The casino-wide party at O Palacio Flutuante was in full swing. Though the private gathering had only started about thirty minutes prior, all the other guests had been celebrating nearly all day. However, things had come to a temporary standstill as Dinah had been announced, the woman appearing on large lacrivision screens throughout the Palace so that everyone could see and hear her, no matter where they were or what they were doing. She was dressed in a black floor length gown that sported off the shoulder sleeves and a large slit that went up to one of her thighs. The gown was trimmed in a dark gold satin, with drapes of black velvet supported by a gold pendant around her hips, and a black necklace with a matching gold pendant around her neck. Sheer black gloves, black nylons, and black heels completed the look, the woman looking to the camera as she made her first public speech as the new owner and CEO of the Palace.  “It is… difficult to know where to begin. I know Genesis’ passing was as much a shock to all of you as it was to me. The idea of standing here before you and finding the words to do his life justice seems a mountain of a task, but I will do my best.”

“It may come as no surprise to learn that Genesis came to us from beyond our world. As close as we were, I have very few details about his upbringing, and many of the things I do know would not be appropriate to share publicly. What I can say, however, is that the path that led him here to Earthland was tumultuous. Like this casino that he came to love so much, his history was not the cleanest. He did not enjoy speaking about it, as much out of shame for many of the things he’d done in his youth as a desire to leave his past behind him and commit to the better future that he had fought for.”

“He was a man who loved pleasure in all of its forms, and held no tolerance toward those that would deny others their freedoms. I myself have a history of slavery. By the time I met Genesis I had already been freed by good samaritans, but I was still searching for purpose. I knew that I wanted to help others the way that I had once been helped, but I did not have the means or the resources. When he learned of my past, he did not hesitate to bring me into his fold, opening doors for me that I never imagined I’d have access to. In time, he became my closest friend, someone whose company I truly cherished… even if he often thought with the wrong head, and put himself in many compromising positions because of it.”

Dinah chuckled lightly to herself, giving a small shake of her head before continuing. “It was demons from his past life that ultimately brought his demise. I am told by those who were with him in his final moments that he bravely and willingly sacrificed himself to protect not just them, but all of you with us here today from a threat that posed a danger to the entirety of Earthland and beyond. My understanding is that he died how he lived: determined, fearless, joyful, and with plenty of shameless compliments toward those he left behind. While he had no true family to speak of, he is survived by many friends that loved him as fiercely as family ever could, all of whom are with us here today though for purposes of their own safety and political protection wish to remain anonymous. He will be deeply missed by many of us, though I would be remiss if I didn’t admit that I will feel his loss most of all.”

She maintained her composure, but still reached a hand up to wipe away a few stray tears that had managed to leak their way through. With a smile, she looked back at the camera. “But today is not a day for sorrow. Genesis would not wish for the world to mourn his passing, but rather for us to celebrate the life he lived, the life he chose in spite of what fate would have otherwise planned for him. So today we honor him and his legacy. Please: drink, make merry, and be sure to lose plenty of money to the house.” Dinah chuckled at her own joke, as did many of those both in the same room as her, and those watching from elsewhere in the complex. “Don’t forget that we are hosting a silent auction in the silver wing, the proceeds of which will go toward rehoming liberated slaves and giving them a leg up to integrate themselves back into the world. For those who are interested in remembering Genesis in a way that he would most appreciate, the entire platinum sector is hosting an orgy that has been delightfully and appropriately wild thus far. And as a reminder, all of our guests tonight will receive their first drinks on the house, free of charge when you present your membership cards at the bar.”

“Thank you all again for joining us in celebration of a life well and fully lived. Genesis, my friend… you were one of a kind, and you will never, ever be forgotten.”

The applause throughout the casino was so thunderous it could practically be heard from the private penthouse lounge where the more intimate party had gathered. It was a large and luxurious space with dark blue marble flooring that was inlaid with gold and neon purple lights that gave it a modern nightclub feel without being too dimly lit. A large bar sat off to one side, where there were also plenty of tables and seating to accommodate any who desired to have something to eat or drink with a surface. There were dozens of couches, armchairs, and lounging spaces scattered throughout the open concept floor, as well as a balcony with comfortable seating for those who wished to enjoy the cool fresh air and the skyline of O Palacio Flutuante in all of its splendor. Inside, there was an area sectioned off for those who still wished to engage in some of the gambling, with private tables and slots ready for use so the honored guests would not need to travel to the public casino floors to participate. Another area sported a large open space for dancing, where a live band had picked their playing back up once Dinah had finished the eulogy.

Only when the cameras were turned off and the tech crew left to attend to other matters did Dinah finally allow a few more tears to fall, her strong front faltering for a moment now that there were not so many eyes on her. Serilda gracefully crossed the distance between them, procuring a small handkerchief and offering it to her, giving her friend a chance to dry her face before pulling her into a firm and lingering hug. “That was beautiful, Dinah. Truly.” The Voidwalker sported an elegant and somewhat racy gown sewn together from white satin. It had a low cut V-shaped front that showed off the entirety of her cleavage from top to bottom, with halter straps that were sewn into a wide golden necklace that gave a pop of color to the ensemble. Golden armbands adorned each of her biceps, both pieces of jewelry wrapped with white satin to give the dress an off the shoulder appeal. She wore matching gold bracelets and earrings, with her white hair curled and loose around her shoulders.

“Thank you,” the casino owner told her softly as the two women embraced, a sad but genuine smile on her face. Looking to ease the tension a bit, Dinah stepped back and gave Serilda a once over. “Have I said yet how absolutely stunning you look tonight?”

Serilda gave her a wry smirk. “Not even once,” she teased, though Dinah had definitely made several such comments since their arrival.

“Stunning doesn’t even begin to cover it.” Mercury grinned as she approached the women, having caught the exchange. “You look downright sexy. If Mythal doesn’t put another baby in you, I might.” The Xocili wore a black gown with a somewhat more modest plunge neckline, and long sleeves of black lace that buttoned into a collar around her neck. She’d grown her hair out, leaving it similarly long and loose as Serilda’s, with delicate silver chains hanging from her shoulders down her arms and black jewelry on her hands and ears. Dinah and Serilda both laughed lightly, the latter shaking her head in amusement at her future sister-in-law’s candor. Mercury offered Dinah a hug of her own, the lavender haired woman’s eyes also moist with tears that she’d had to fight while listening to the speech. “It was perfect. He’d be so proud of you.”

In a different area of the room, Saffron sat at a table with Cedric and a couple others, their game of poker having been paused so everyone could hear the eulogy. A tailored yellow suit with black pinstripes hugged her frame, a low cut black shirt showing off her ample cleavage. Her voluptuous hair was loose as it almost always was, though she’d added some product to enhance her natural waves. A pair of dark tinted sunglasses with gold frames sat on her nose, and the only jewelry she wore was a simple gold chain with a small pendant. She watched the proceedings without much comment; after all, she really hadn’t spent much time with the homunculus. But it was still a beautiful speech and the small smile on her face said as much. Once the moment was over, however, she’d turned back to the table. “Alright, which of you losers is ready for me to take more of your money?” A wide grin split her face, the dealer already shuffling up the cards to dole out the next round.

Agatha giggled in her seat. “I’m certainly ready for you to try,” she teased, shooting the blonde a look that was both devious and flirtatious. Her black silk dress was so snug that it may as well have been skin, with a low neckline and thin straps with leaf-like embellishments on it. It was shorter in the front than in the back, and detached sheer black sleeves covered her arms from wrist to bicep. An amber pendant practically drew the eye to her chest. “Do your worst..!”

“Hey now, I was talking to the losers,” Saffron insisted, returning Agatha’s look with a confident and charming grin of her own. “The only thing I plan on stealing from you is a few kisses in a dark hallway later.”

“Mm, well you’d have no complaints from me..!”

Zemenar and Khelben loitered near the bar, chatting idly with a couple other people, though Zemenar was doing more of the talking than his son. Khelben was feeling far more out of place than usual, surrounded by all the lively glitz and noise, though he was doing remarkably well at not fidgeting or putting his awkwardness on display. Doing so would only make him stand out more, so while he was still quiet it felt a little more natural than it typically did, the young man able to smile and laugh lightly with the conversation, and contributing to it from time to time.

While his father was dressed in a more traditional suit and tie, Mercury had once more helped her brother find suitable attire for the event. He wore tailored dark gray pants with a tight fitting, matching vest. A white button up shirt was rolled up to his elbows on the sleeves, and the top couple buttons were loose, leaving just a bit of his chest poking through. A silver pin in the shape of a flower was fixed to his lapel, and he wore a necklace of several layers with a dog tag shaped pendant. A set of black leather suspenders clung tight around his shoulders and down to his hips, giving his otherwise traditional outfit a more modern and edgy flair, and he’d elected to trim his hair short like he once used to keep it. He stood with one hand in his pocket, the other holding his drink, his eyes darting back and forth between the conversation and still taking in the ritz and opulence of his surroundings.

He was aware of Vandrad’s approach, the former prince choosing to join Khelben at the railing once he and Blade had parted. The Xocili glanced up, his nerves shifting a bit, though not necessarily as much as he once used to. Vandrad still did, and probably always would, make Khelben nervous… but he knew that it was highly unlikely his future brother-in-law would ever lash out at him, not unless Khelben gave him another reason to.

That didn’t mean he’d ever really expected the man to go out of his way for any one on one time with him, though. When Vandrad remarked about the noise level inside the building, Khelben glanced back at the room idly. “I don’t necessarily mind it,” he admitted, easing into the small talk rather adeptly, even if it felt a bit odd given his current company. “It’s just very different from anything I’ve ever experienced. Even before the Nazru, I never did much ‘clubbing’, as Earthlanders call it… and our economy was skill and trade  based, so there wasn’t much by way of gambling.”

Both men filled the following silence with sips from their drinks, quietly taking in the sight of the floating city. Vandrad was the first to speak again, informing the Xocili that the efforts Khelben had made on the ship were appreciated, at least by him. Khelben turned to look at Vandrad again, his eyes slightly widened in surprise but otherwise unreadable as the former prince explained about Vriko and Mythal giving up the details on what had happened, which he believed was both brave and stupid… but he respected the act, and the fact that Khelben hadn’t hesitated to step up when it was needed.

Khelben rubbed the back of his head with a small, awkward chuckle. “There wasn’t exactly enough time to hesitate,” he admitted, “Or really to even think about the consequences. The Terrans needed our help.. And I didn’t want to let any of you down, especially not with an opportunity to help another race the way you helped mine.” There really hadn’t been any way for Kheben to know that handling the transfer directly would have put his own life at such a risk, not that the foreknowledge of that would have changed his efforts in any way. Regardless, with literal seconds on the clock, there simply had been no room for error, no luxury for consideration. He had already contributed enough to the extinction of countless other races, so when the chance to protect and save one came his way he’d made damn sure he wasn’t going to fuck it up, no matter what.

“I’m sorry, that probably sounds ungrateful; thank you. I’m just glad I was able to help.” He couldn’t imagine the amount of swallowed pride that went into Vandrad’s… compliment? Appreciation? The last thing Khelben wanted was to make the man feel like his words were being brushed off.

Another small silence befell them that Vandrad once again chose to be the one to break, turning to face Khelben with enough determination that the Xocili wasn’t quite able to mask his wariness. All he could do was stare at Vandrad apprehensively as the future king solidified that he would never fully forgive Khelben for what he had done, rightfully calling it for the disgusting act that it had been… but with a sigh, he also admitted that he recognized the efforts Khelben was trying to make, and understood that Mercury wasn’t planning on cutting Khelben out any time soon. What mattered most to him, it seemed, was respecting Mercury’s desire for not just her own healing, but Khelben’s as well.

He shifted his stance awkwardly while Vandrad cursed his inability to coherently voice his thoughts, only to settle on assuring Khelben that the two of them were “good”. Vandrad didn’t want Mercury’s brother to feel like he had no place with them, as as such he was not going to be as hostile toward the man moving forward as he often had been up until now. For better or worse, they would be family soon enough, and he didn’t seem intent on alienating Khelben for the rest of their lives, particularly when his own family wasn’t exactly normal.

The humor was not lost on Khelben, who took the ease in tension gratefully with a chuckle. “Rhaegarians are certainly a lot more than I’m used to, that’s for sure,” he admitted. “But… it all comes from a caring place. They’re compassionate and respectful people, even when they have every right not to be, at least in my case. And in comparison to what I was living with for nearly thirty years prior to this… all things considered, this is preferable. Even considering that I’m confident your father will murder me in cold blood if he suspects that I’m even thinking about stepping a single toe out of line.”

Khelben chuckled nervously and then was quiet for a moment as he gathered his thoughts, idly churning his glass between his fingertips. “For what it’s worth,” he told Vandrad softly, his anxiety warbling violently in discomfort at the topic, despite his controlled exterior. “I will never forgive myself, either. Not just because it was Mercury, but just… No one should ever have to experience the kind of pain that I put her through. My parents raised me to be respectful of others, to protect them, particularly women, so the knowledge that I ever…” He took a deep breath to steady himself, battling down the frustration and sorrow and shame so as to avoid looking like he was pitying himself.

“The therapist ties it all back to the stress from being under the Nazru’s control for so long, that what I did was an act of trying to take control when I didn’t have any… but it doesn’t change the fact that it happened, and that it was my fault. And honestly, what makes it even worse… I haven’t told anyone this, not even Mercury, but Thana…” Khelben gulped slightly. “I don’t know how, but somehow… I think she knew… what I was going to do. The last thing she said to me before she left was, ‘by the time you realize what you’ve done, it will be far too late to fix it’. At the time I assumed she was just talking about some other consequence of me taking Mercury, but… somehow she knew.” Not only that, but she knew and still let Khelben take his sister, the warlord practically going out of her way to make sure that it happened.

He realized there was moisture in his eyes and lifted a hand to wipe it away. “It doesn’t really matter now, I suppose.” Khelben took another breath to collect himself, and then lifted his gaze to meet Vandrad’s again. “I know that I will never be able to fix the damage I caused. I know that I will never be able to fully regain your trust… not that I think I ever had it to begin with. I was the one that had insisted on meeting you the first time, so I could evaluate Mercury’s claims that you two weren’t as close as I suspected. She fought me hard on it, insisting that you’d see right through me, and I’m pretty certain that’s exactly what happened.” He chuckled lightly.

“But I’m never going to stop trying. I’ve never been that man before, and I never want to be that man ever again. And while I know that I have no right to ask for forgiveness of any kind… It means more than I could ever express that you are willing to give me a second chance. So, thank you. I don’t plan on squandering that opportunity… and someday, I hope that I can be worthy of being a brother in more than just name… both for Mercury, and for you.”

Cedric seemed keen on Mercury’s suggestion to keep the cane around, not just for the aesthetic but also because it would be a great way to hide a weapon. She grinned up at him, but that grin was nearly lost to something else entirely as he swiftly flicked the walking stick up to lift up her chin, asking her if she’d been a bad girl. Mercury earnestly hadn’t approached him to make a serious pass at him, considering what she had heard regarding everything with him and Saffron, but she couldn’t help the brief heat that flashed through her gaze. “Oh, trust me, I’ve been all sorts of naughty,” she purred back.

He pulled the cane away and Mercury stamped herself back under control, changing the subject slightly toward the party itself. Cedric hadn’t been to one of the du Wolff orgies, of course, and he said as much, but he had heard plenty about them. “Well, I imagine you’re going to start being invited to them at this point. So I’m sure you won’t have to wonder too much longer.”

She turned her attention back to him, trailing her fingers up his arm as she seemingly gauged his interest in revisiting the promise they had once made to each other, and for the briefest of moments it seemed he was giving it some consideration… but with a sigh, he took her hand and held it in his own, lamenting that her proposition hadn’t come even a few days sooner. With some sorrow he declined her offer, assuring her that while he was still very much attracted to her, the primal part of himself wanting to squirrel her away and run her ragged, he couldn’t deny the perspective he’d gotten out of the fight with Seberg.

He seemed almost nervous to admit how much he now realized he cared for Saffron, despite everything he had done to try and keep the other woman at an arm’s length, and that care ran deeply enough that he simply wasn’t interested in anyone else having that kind of place in his life. Cedric insisted it had nothing to do with Mercury, and if he had an opportunity for his old self to make sure he got his run in with her, he would have taken it, but it could only be with the past part of himself that was still in denial. Whatever chance he and Mercury had once had for intimacy… it was gone, now. And to his credit, he did look genuinely sad about it, hoping that he hadn’t ruined her plans for the evening.

Mercury had been quiet through his small speech, but in the end she only gave him a small smile of her own, one that was more peaceful than anything else. “Not at all, love. It was the answer I was expecting to hear, as much as I hate to hear it. As busy as I was the last several months, if I had wanted to cash in on our promise, I would have made the time. And believe me, I wanted to very much…”

“But, it was increasingly obvious to Vandrad and me both that there was something more going on with you and Saffron than just a casual fling. I know how Saffron can feel at times about my looseness, and I would never want to hurt her or feel like I robbed her of something important. So I chose to wait… until I knew you were ready to say no.” Mercury adjusted her hand to intertwine her fingers with his, giving them a soft squeeze of her own. “For what it’s worth… I’m happy for you. What you have with Saffron is so much more than I could have ever offered you, and after everything that your life has been up until now… you deserve something real. I’m certainly never going to stop flirting with you and making playful advances, and I will probably always complain about the missed opportunity.” She smirked up at him playfully. “But I’ll be okay, as long as you’re both happy.”

Leaning over, she gave him a soft, somewhat lingering kiss on the cheek before pulling back and disentangling their hands from one another. Then, Mercury chuckled and shook her head. “Honestly, watching all of this develop has given me a whole new appreciation for how Mythal and Seri must have felt when they first met us. At the time I was so sure we had everyone fooled. Seeing it from this side of things makes me feel all the more silly looking back.”

Vandrad’s remark about his father did ease Khelben’s nerves somewhat, appreciative that Themesycia would typically be there to make sure Gren didn’t get any violent ideas without true provocation. But he was also correct that, should Khelben fuck up again, it wasn’t the men folk he’d have to deal with – it was Mercury herself. Khelben was surprised to see the twinkle of mirth in the other man’s gaze, giving a small laugh… but the way he took a deep gulp of his drink betrayed that he wasn’t exactly keen on the idea of Mercury setting her sights on him, not after how quickly and easily she’d practically buried him in Bosco.

But the ease in tension helped give him the confidence to address the past, which Khelben did his best not to bring up as much as possible. Not so much out of shame, though that was part of it. More because he knew that he couldn’t set a precedent for it coming up every time he was allowed to participate in some gathering, thereby making everything sour for everyone else. He also didn’t want to beat his apologies over and over so hard that they became stale. But Vandrad himself had opened the door, and Khelben took the opportunity to have a real conversation about it with the former prince that he hadn’t been able to have up until this point. He even opened up a bit about what Thana had said to him the last time he’d seen her.

It wasn’t too much of a surprise to Vandrad, who stated plainly that Thana had a history of knowing things she should not have been able to know or things that hadn’t even happened yet. Mythal claimed it was due to some pendant she had worn that contained the spirit of someone called Darius, though Vandrad couldn’t recall too many of the details. Mostly because he’d been enraged and focused on killing her at the time, since she was the one who had revealed the event to Vandrad. Khelben nodded softly, not quite understanding but accepting it for what it was. He had, of course, always wondered how the former prince had found out, but it wasn’t a question he’d been willing to ask anyone, least of all Vandrad himself. The truth was out and that had been all that truly mattered at the time.

Despite everything, Khelben did offer a wry smirk when Vandrad confirmed that he’d never fully trusted Khelben upon meeting him, though it was less suspicion of anything nefarious and more that he recognized Khelben had some means of keeping Mercury obedient. Something that he recognized killing Khelben wouldn’t have solved. “I mean, it might have,” he admitted, perhaps a tad playfully. “I guess we’ll never know.”

When he took the time to open up a bit more to his future brother-in-law, Khelben did his best to not simply stand there like a useless child and beg for grace, an act that would have taken all the responsibility for change out of his own hands. Instead, he approached the topic in the way that he felt Vandrad would most appreciate: a game plan, of sorts, toward working to make himself a better person, the man and brother he wanted to be. He expected very little by way of response, primarily a gruff acknowledgement or a “we’ll see” sort of reaction, which Khelben would have been happy enough with.

Instead, Vandrad continued to exceed his expectations, watching Khelben carefully before confirming that the man Khelben had been when he’d hurt Mercury would never have his trust, but that was not the man that stood before him. Khelben was a work in progress, but he recognized that progress was being made and that it was coming from a genuine and earnest place that wanted to better, not just from wanting to do whatever it took to make people forget what he’d done. Rather, the work was being put in because Khelben knew he needed it for himself as much as anyone else. Eventually, Vandrad was sure he would be able to trust the man that Khelben would become.

It was perhaps the most meaningful thing that anyone had ever said to him, and there was a deep wave of relief and gratitude that cut sharply through the rest of his anxiety and pain. “Thank you, Vandrad,” he said softly, overwhelmed with emotion and doing his best to maintain his composure, though he had to wipe a few more quiet tears from his face.

He was so caught up in the conversation that he hadn’t been paying much attention to his surroundings. He turned to look at Vriko when he realized she had approached, his emotion washing away and replacing itself with complete and total confusion as she stopped their conversation short. “...I did..?” was his bewildered reaction when Vriko informed Vandrad that Khelben had promised her a dance. His perplexion only rose when she slipped her arm under his and yanked him away without a word, Khelben’s eyes going wide and flicking back to Vandrad with a fluster, unable to say another word before they were gone.

Vriko was able to lead Khelben all the way to the dance floor without protest, though anyone watching the scene wouldn’t have to guess that he hadn’t been given much say in the matter. He simply stood there when they stopped on the dance floor, staring at her and completely flabbergasted as she insisted that he didn’t need to thank her, that they just had to get the “stupid thing over with”. “Uhhh….” Khelben was desperately wracking his brain trying to understand what it was that he was supposed to be thanking her for when all thought was completely derailed by Vriko’s attempt at dancing.

It was awful. He’d seen some bad dancing in his time, but this was just something else entirely. Her movements were somehow mechanical and overly-loose at the same time. It was like watching a visual representation of someone at a karaoke being horrifically tone-deaf. But what was earnestly the most bizarre part of it was that it was Vriko. Khelben knew next to nothing about Mythal’s sister except that she had a sharp tongue, just about hated his sister, and wouldn’t be caught dead doing.. Well, anything like this. So why was she doing it now? What had prompted such an out of character act?

The only logical conclusion he could make, which was ultimately the correct conclusion, was that she believed she had saved him from an uncomfortable confrontation with Vandrad. And though he couldn’t fathom a single reason for her to go out of her way for a man she barely knew, it didn’t stop the odd lump from forming in his throat as he watched her with an entirely different type of awe in his eyes.

Finally, for the first time in a very, very long time, Khelben laughed outright, the smile on his face as bright and full as it could ever be. It was not a laugh of mockery, nor was it directed at her in any fashion. Rather, her outrageous movements and determination to “save” him had brought him genuine joy and appreciation, and the sight of her trying so hard and behaving so silly was adorable. “Oh you are just… so bad at this,” he teased, a playful grin on his face.

Relenting, he finally relaxed, shedding much of the guilt, shame, and tension that he’d been holding onto for well over a year at that point as he started moving along to the music as well. His dancing was far more collected than hers, with noticeably better rhythm, though he still went out of his way to do equally silly things and look a bit foolish alongside her.

A few dozen feet away, Mercury and Cedric were having a heart to heart of their own. While Mercury was disappointed that she’d missed out on her chance to have a roll in the hay with the former Dread Master, she understood what it felt like to live one’s life as little more than a tool only to find something, someone, that treated you as a person. She could never take that from him, nor would she want to risk destroying what Cedric and Saffron had formed practically right under Mercury’s nose. Mercury had been beyond shocked when she’d found out about their consistent liaisons, but once the veil had been removed and she was able to watch their interactions with more perspective, it had quickly become clear that there was something that bonded them together more deeply than just on the surface.

Cedric insisted that he was happy, even if it was still a bit complicated given Saffron’s relationship with Trevor. He claimed he wasn’t planning on sabotaging that in any way, happy to at least accept that he was capable of real emotion and care, and having such feelings returned. It was a sentiment that Mercury was all too familiar with. “You don’t really need to try; it comes quite naturally for you,” she teased about him being a source of entertainment for the affianced pair. “Thanks for reminding me about Trevor, though. I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had any time at all to look into her band or her mystery beaux. I should do that soon. Not tonight, but soon. She was far too curious about the other man. “And hey, you never know. Maybe he’d be down for a thruple?”

Speaking of Saffron, it seemed she was trying to get Cedric’s attention, the blonde waving him over almost frantically with barely contained amusement on her face… only for both Mercury and the former Dread Master to see what was putting her in such a state. “Lights of Aetheria…” Mercury breathed, her jaw dropping in wide eyed shock as she witnessed Vriko practically flopping around on the dance floor with Khelben. She was practically glued to the sight, fighting back a giggling fit even as Cedric polished off his drink and committed himself to what he could only assume was now a rescue mission. “Good fucking luck with that train wreck.” Insisting that he would be back to take things out on her if it all went wrong, and solidifying the statement with a firm slap to her backside with his cane, she finally pulled her eyes away with a pleased giggle. “Promises, promises…”

As Cedric approached, he’d catch the latter end of what was turning into a dance lesson. “No no, you gotta move with the beat. The down beat. You’re on the off-beat, and it’s killing me.” Saffron had never been so equally entertained and horrified in her life, watching Vriko in a mixture of concern and amusement. She had returned from the bathroom to discover the woman on the dance floor with Mercury’s hot older brother, but all inclination to tease the woman about spending time with Khelben went straight out the window the moment she took in the sight of Vriko attempting to dance. Instead, she’d hurried over in an attempt to save her friend, hilariously tickled by the entire thing but also earnestly wanting to improve the disaster. “Gods help me, you need an entire music theory course.. Okay, follow my lead, just like this….”

Mercury watched from afar with an amused smirk at the antics, though by the time Cedric had joined up with the other three she was more looking at him and Saffron together more than whatever the hell was happening with Vriko. “Well, that one needs all the help she can get, eh?”

“Tell me about it.” Mercury snorted, turning to look at the bartender that had spoken to her. He was a young man, remarkably so for a barback, with shaggy purple hair and bright crimson eyes. The tapered ears on either side of his head marked him as Sevenese, though he didn’t seem to carry the accent. She watched for a moment as he expertly mixed a drink together, pouring several liquids and some ice into a shaker and mixing it all together. Her eyes narrowed on him playfully. “Aren’t you a bit young to be slinging drinks, kid?”

He returned her look with a mischievous smirk of his own. “Not according to my paperwork,” was his only innocent response. “Refill? Mistress Dinah’s instructions were very clear: free drinks all night for the ‘birthday’ girl and her friends and family.”

She considered him for a moment before her smirk deepened. “Well, I can’t very well say no to a free drink, can I?” He mixed her up a fresh glass. Just as she was accepting it, a sound drew her attention back to the dance floor where the lessons were continuing. They appeared to be laughing, though Mercury hadn’t turned around quickly enough to see what about. With a shake of her head, she turned back to thank the bartender, only to find him gone. With a frown, she glanced around, finding no trace of him.

It was odd, but a notification that went off in her head promptly distracted her. “Oh, perfect timing.” Gathering up her drink, she made her way through the crowds to where Patricia, Hosrius and Grubar were loitering around with one another. “Well, well, well, look at all you fine looking people,” she purred, sidling up to Patty and running a familiar hand across the woman’s ass before settling her arm around the doctor’s waist. “Who needs an orgy with all this concentrated sex appeal in one spot?”

Mercury grinned, and then turned her attention to the two extra terrestrials. “Hey, before I forget, since I know you two will have to leave soon: Vandrad and I put together a little something for you both. We just wanted to thank you for all your help. I know everything with Maker was still bounty related for you guys and all, but that doesn’t make your efforts any less valuable or impactful to us on a personal level. Not to mention your help with the Nazru, as well. So, take this with our sincerest thanks…”

As genuine as her words were, she did still have a playful smirk on her face as she slowly slipped from her drink, very aware of the fact that she didn’t have any kind of physical item in her hands that she appeared to be offering them. Then, after a beat with no further explanation, they both would hear their personal communicators chirp with an incoming message. Should they check them, they’d find copies of official documentation certifying that their contracts had been paid in full down to the penny. Furthermore, there were additional certifications updating their identifications to mark them both as fully licensed freelance bounty hunters, the fees for which had also already been covered.

“I’d say you should tell your bosses that they really need to get better cybersecurity – numbers are such an easy thing to change, and a hacker can just cause all sorts of damage, you know.” Her tone was innocent. Too innocent, in fact, if her sly smile and mischievous glimmer was any indication. “But I suppose that’s not really your problem anymore.”