n

n

nEli waved her to sit wherever.

nSlightly awkwardly, Marai glanced around the familiar apartment. She and Eli were not the kind of acquaintances that were comfortable around each other.

nShe could see it by the slight frown on his face that she was certain mirrored hers.

nHe asked,

"Something to drink?

"

n

"No thanks.

"

nShe spied the Redlands forums open on the glass monitor.

n

"What are you doing?

"

nHe side-eyed her for a long moment. Rude.

"I thought I had an idea. But it fell through.

"

nShe boosted himself onto a kitchen stool.

"You been playing Redlands, right? This month? I can point you to a few questlines.

"

nHe'd taken care of her cousin this last week. Uneasy or not, she owed him.

n

"I mostly take monster quests.

"

n

"Oh. I…don't know any questlines involving monsters.

"

nHe smiled at her.

"That's alright.

"

nSee? When was Eli ever so forgiving? If this was two months ago, he'd have sulked for a while and accused her of hoarding information.

n

"Just monster quests though? I wondered why Jori called you stupid.

"

nHe did that nearly-not-there shrug of his.

"I don't want to get used to seeing people as antagonists. I've spent too much time already being suspicious of people's motives, right?

"

nThe hell?

nThat was…

n

"I want the name and number of your therapist.

"

nEli coughed, then broke into laughter at her words.

n

"I'm actually serious.

"

nHe laughed harder. She felt a smile tugging at her lips at the infectious sound. She quashed it.

n

"Seriously, Eli.

"

n

"No…no therapist,

" he hacked out, still wheezing.

"Just…life, I guess.

"

n

"Life.

"

n

"Also, killing a lot of things in semi-reality.

"

nShe rolled her eyes, made sure he could see it. He laughed again.

nAll this laughter and smiling from Eli the Broody One was making her twitchy, god.

nIt was like Pere Noel could just burst in through the window, singing some song about coal, and not be particularly noteworthy.

n

"I just feel I'll be needing one soon. Weird premonition, right?

" Marai blinked as the display cycled to his game profile.

"Also, is that really your avatar name?

"

nEli glanced at the crystalglass and groaned. He gestured to close it.

n

"No no, I wanna see this.

" She fended his hands off, enlarged the profile page.

nHe was 88% cleared for Lvl 15.

nIn one month?

nNot bad, but honestly, still average.

nThen she snorted at the long list of subclasses tailing his page.

"You're a crafter build? Do you even want to make money on this?

"

nShe was leveling her crafter mainclass too, and spending a bit of time on her subclasses. But **, that was more than ten subclasses right there.

nNo one said that was possible.

nNo wonder he was still Lvl 15.

n

"Eh, I have a plan.

" He gave a small grin, confident.

"It's going to be great.

"

nThis was the second time today she heard similar words.

n

"Your optimism is horrifying, considering this profile.

" And even more horrifying, Bel had the same optimistic insanity.

nSeriously, two insane people, roommates.

nThat wasn't the start of a long slow descent into bad decision-making at all.

nShe opened her mouth—forcibly closed it.

nShe wasn't their parent.

nShe wasn't any kind of parent, thank god.

nShe slapped Eli's hands to the kitchen counter, when he attempted to close out the profile again.

"You know the money-making speed is ten levels a month after Lvl 30, right?

"

n

"Is that a Zee calculation?

"

n

"What else could it be?

" She was detail-oriented, but not crazy obsessed with minutiae. Zee was the one who got that way when he was interested in something.

nZee's calculations were the reason that she and the others who joined just two months ago leveled up with crazy speed. Most of them now had levels in the early 40s.

n

"I'll keep it in mind.

"

nMarai manipulated his hand, then laughed. His collection inventory flashed for a moment, but it was enough for her to see.

nWas he hoarding his badges? She smirked at him, even as he finally thwarted her and closed down his profile pages.

"The rumors that if you activate battle badges at the same time means they'll merge into a better badge is **. You actually believed that? It's better to activate immediately.

"

nThere was a long silence.

n

"…you have to…hm, sure. I'll see to it.

"

nHonestly.

nShe laughed again.

"You didn't know? Let me guess, you didn't buy the in-game announcement and forum access feature.

"

nHe shrugged.

"It's optional. Therefore not that important to gameplay.

"

nAgreed, actually.

nBut she wasn't the strategist in the guild.

n

"You're not in a guild.

"

n

"No.

"

n

"Solo?

"

n

"Yeah.

"

n

"Buy the feature, gods.

"

nShe was fairly certain he was going to refuse on principle, but then he didn't say it. He frowned.

"Another Zee calculation?

"

nShe shrugged. It was Jori and Sian who monitored player movements and gossip via the announcements and forums, really. No idea whose suggestion it was.

nIt helped with the timing of a few of their raids.

nHe huffed. Frowned at her.

"You're actually not threatening me, about Bel's health and safety?

"

nHe asked now?

nMarai sighed, the conversation in the bistro returning to her. Bel had enumerated all the ways in which she prepared for her pregnancy and after.

nIt was slightly awe-inspiring, but the facts were still facts. Bel had placed a massive burden on herself, even if she was excited and enthusiastic about it.

nMarai felt her young cousin was treating this like she treated her school projects.

nIt wasn't a bad thing. She'd seen one of those projects, meticulously planned.

nBut school projects didn't change your body chemistry, didn't demand attention and care at all day, didn't wake you up as soon as you crashed on the bed exhausted, didn't scream and cry at all hours without your input.

nMarai had babysat a whole spectrum of little cousins.

nEven if schedules and activities were planned to the minute, something always, always took an unexpected turn.

nShe eyed Eli, whose frown was turning into curiosity and concern the longer she didn't answer.

n

"Something wrong?

"

n

"Bel's a bit impulsive,

" she said at last.

"when her emotions are high. She has a tendency to not ask for help if there's a problem that stresses her. Don't let her make major decisions without talking to someone.

"

nHe blinked, a shocked expression taking over his face.

nYeah, she was a bit surprised too.

nShe shouldn't trust the guy with Bel so easily.

nBut she'd always gone with gut instincts when it came to family. The practice hadn't let her down yet. Her gut now said Eli wouldn't hurt Bel.

nThat was good enough for now.

nIf this didn't work out, she had a few options.

nShe narrowed her eyes deliberately.

"You understand what I'm saying, Crewan?

"

nHe nodded, a single jerk of his chin.

nLike it was an answer to a challenge.

nShe couldn't help her silent groan.

nGod, they really were alike, weren't they.

n