章 122: The Calm
QJ leaned against his workbench, glancing at Sam, who seemed slightly nervous; she was dressed in regular work clothes, not her Conductor uniform. "You should have mentioned you were an LAI when you gave me this quest."
Samantha sighed and nodded in agreement. "Although my dad has been a farmer since before I was born, his past in TAP was a bit more complicated. Our origins have always been a family secret, but I should have told you."
QJ grabbed two glasses and poured them both a brandy. "He was a small-time criminal, mostly grifting, nothing too serious. Still... I'm sure he's made some enemies. Rest assured, I won't say anything."
Sam sipped her drink, pushing a strand of light brown hair behind one ear. Her time working in Basara was causing her hair to streak with blond highlights. "I'm sorry, Boss."
QJ accepted the apology. "I have a lead on Lazun and should have this cracked by tomorrow."
Sam's sunburned cheeks dimpled when she smiled. "Really? I can't believe you've made so much progress."
QJ let the comment slide since it would have gone smoother had she been forthcoming. "No worries, now get out of here. I'm done for the day."
Sam favored him with a smile. "I hear there's a gathering at your pool tonight."
"Who told you that?" QJ asked.
"Ra," Sam answered. "I'll talk to you tomorrow."
QJ nodded. "I'll keep you in the loop."
Instead of logging out of GnG, QJ used his avatar to gain access to his home's VRP and stepped into their entryway a few seconds later.
"Fen!" QJ called the wolf pup's name and heard the drumbeat of paws from the railing above. A glance showed that the white wolf had been enjoying Nina's company; the purple-haired third-year walked to the railing with a big smile. "You guys were hanging out?"
Nina's shoulder-length purple hair swayed when she nodded. "I just fed him a few minutes ago."
QJ checked the fridge, he had asked everyone to write down their order for Dela Rays so he could buy the group dinner. As QJ read through the list, it was easy to decipher who ordered what. Sato always had the double order, Breeze liked spicy foods, and Lotte enjoyed her sweets. Dela Rays was, in truth, a large bodega run by a middle-aged Greek man named Raymond. The attached kitchen and deli became part of the package when Ray met the much younger Dela and started a family. Unknown to the general public, most of the buildings in the area were owned by the Obreen corporation, including Dela Rays.
"Don't feed him that." QJ frowned at the virtual Nina, who tempted Fen with a vanilla ice cream cone.
Nina pulled the cone back, making a face. "You give your horse snow cones, but Fen can't have ice cream?"
QJ shrugged. "He only likes pistachio; vanilla gives him gas."
An hour later, the entire house relaxed at the kitchen island while enjoying dinner.
Sato frowned at the huge Philly cheesesteak sub that QJ was eating. "Bruh... That looks so good."
QJ nodded in agreement. "Taste even better. How's the stroganoff?"
"It's good," Sato admitted.
Breeze was finishing off her Calzone, her dark face creased with worry. "I don't want to hang with those yahoos from 2nd year."
Sato and Lotte both nodded in agreement while QJ pursed his lips.
"Let's play it easy," QJ suggested. "We made friends with Nina, remember what she was like?"
Nina frowned at QJ before favoring him with a wide grin. "You guys are a thousand times cooler than the 2nd years. They have some talent, not as much as you guys, but a bit more than the 3rd years, if I'm honest."
QJ didn't comment. Recently, he and Ringo discussed what would happen when they left Exodus Academy in two years. They both agreed that many of the third years would be moved to an auxiliary guild that was merit-based rather than salary-based. Too many of Dessi's group lacked contribution in multiple categories. OP wouldn't carry anyone for the sake of nostalgia.
Sato sopped up the remaining stroganoff with some homemade bread before polishing it off with the last of his beer. "Man, that is good. Hey... Did you talk with Sam?"
QJ nodded. "She left out her LAI background to keep her dad's criminal past under wraps. We'll finish the quest tomorrow."
Lotte glanced at her watch before sneaking a glance at QJ. "It's almost time; we should clean up."
QJ nodded while Breeze and Nina headed upstairs. Sato paused by the refrigerator. "Logging in? I thought we were having a pool party."
Breeze paused long enough to look back. "We aren't; QJ is."
Sato's freckled face scrunched up. "Really? What the heck is going on?"
Lotte shrugged helplessly. "Robin made the guest list."
"Then I'm staying," Sato replied. "Robin and I are tight!
Fen's ears pricked forward, and his hackles rose as he faced the door, his teeth suddenly showing.
"Oi..." Nina glanced at QJ, who was looking at the entryway. A moment later, Robin, Ra, and Belle appeared, along with a large black panther.
Ra smiled at the group, her dark eyes singling out Lotte. "You're joining us?"
Lotte smiled. "Wouldn't miss it."
"Me too?" Sato asked.
"Um... No." Robin winked at the crestfallen Sato and scooped up Fen when his chest rumbled with a puppy growl. "Next time, maybe."
Ra smiled at the group from OP. "For sure, Sato."
Belle's eyes were dark while her shadow fiends were sky-blue, an indication that she was using vision transference. The high elf's dark blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail, making her look young. "Thanks for having me."
Sato muttered under his breath and marched up the stairs, following Breeze into her room.
"What gives?" Breeze was going to use the virtual chamber but paused with her hand on the door when Sato seated himself on her bed.
"How come we aren't invited?" Sato asked. "We're QJ's best friends."
Breeze laughed at his hurt expression. "Don't be so sensitive. Robin set it up; call it their family bonding."
"Huh?" Sato scratched his head. "Is there going to be sex? Like a pool orgy?"
Nina's laughter carried from the doorway. "If that's the case, I'm going to watch from the window."
Breeze sighed heavily when Sato and Nina peeked through the curtains of her window. "I swear to goodness, if you two don't log in, I'm going to kick your butts sideways."
*************
Quick Reminder: Suzi, Taylor, and Jo are Lotte's siblings.
*************
Suzie Hall grinned and reached into the bag of chips that her twin Taylor had just opened. The teens sat together on their desk watching the neighbors pool.
"What are you two up to now?" Jo's disapproving voice sounded from the doorway. Her black tights and tank top clung to her dancer's body like a best friend.
"Looks like lady's night plus QJ at the pool next door," Suzie responded, munching loudly on her snacks.
Taylor nodded. "it's quite a line-up."
Jo's beautiful face showed her usual bored expression. "Charlie and QJ are just friends; anyone can see that. She's just going to end up getting her feelings hurt." Jo refused to call her sister Lotte.
Taylor shared a smile with her sister. "Friends who sleep together."
"Bullshit," Jo replied.
Suzie shrugged slightly. "Lotte told me herself, not just once either."
"Don't use that stupid name," Jo's pretty face reddened. "Why would QJ like..." Her words filtered off when both twins hopped off the desk and faced her.
The twin blockade formed, ready for battle. Suzie crossed her arms in front of her. "Why aren't you happy for Lotte? She's a thousand times better than a scamp like you!"
"She's living her life, doing something she enjoys, and she has a bad-ass boyfriend." Taylor's usual smile faded whenever Jo opened her mouth. "You sound like a jealous harpy."
Suzie cawed like a crow for effect since she had no clue what a harpy sounded like. "Get out of our room before something bad happens to you."
Taylor nodded once again. "Let's just beat her up again."
"MOM!" Jo exited the room quickly. A few months earlier, she mistakenly thought she could handle her younger sisters' wrath; it turned out she was completely wrong.
*******
Fen dog-paddled around the shadow fiend while the black cat sat peacefully in the pool's shallow end. The clink of glasses and sound of laughter echoed in the calm Nevada night.
Robin's orange hair was slicked back from the water; she had ditched her bikini top before jumping in. "Is it your turn?"
QJ nodded. He trod water with Lotte, who had an arm thrown around his shoulder, while Ra poured everyone another drink. "Never have I spied on someone while they were having sex."
Lotte wrinkled her nose. "Does being present count?"
"No, that's watching, not spying." QJ grinned and waited.
"I'm good then," Lotte wasn't surprised when Robin slammed back her drink.
Ra shook her head, but Belle slowly tilted her drink back.
Ra's infectious laugh spread to the rest of the group. "What? Belle?"
The high elf's pale face was red from drinking too much or being embarrassed. "My shadow fiend is constantly finding couples hidden away."
QJ's drunken grin threatened to eat the rest of his face. "Your cat is a voyeur? It sends you the images?"
Robin eased behind QJ and Lotte. "Do you send it out looking, or are these accidents? Let me borrow it this weekend..."
Belle laughed and refused to comment. "It's my turn..." The high elf held out her glass while Ra refilled it. "Never have I stolen Brandy!"
The four women glanced at QJ; all of them knew the story about Belle and QJ's first time.
"That's cheap..." QJ tossed back the drink; they were deliberately targeting him. "Last round, Ra is up."
Ra's dark face focused, her full lips curved in a smile. "Never have I sabotaged someone's jetpack."
Robin's brown eyes danced with mischief. "I was so pissed... You were lucky to survive that one."
QJ laughed and drank his last round. "There is no pouring back, so finish what you're holding."
"Briar Rose?" Robin asked while picking up Fen as she waded out of the pool.
QJ nodded. "It's still early."
"I'm in," Ra proclaimed.
"Same," Lotte agreed.
"Sure," Belle answered.
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