“So… What do you think?”
Ret and Kuta glanced at each other, then shrugged.
“You want us to spend a week with Letharus, helping him run the Shield and Stave pub, while you take Vick to the mall at the edge of the Goldtorn Remains so you can meet the original Dessaron?” Ret asked.
“Basically, yes.”
Litvir and Retvik seemed much less amused than Arkay was. But Retvik was mostly annoyed that Arkay was going on a trip with another Retvik, and Litvir was annoyed because he had also wanted to go to the Shield and Stave and help Letharus but had other duties to do. One of those duties being accompanying Elkay to the Pink Paradise, because Elkay was suddenly ill, and, unlike Arkay, being stabbed in the stomach didn’t immediately make Elkay feel better.
“Alright, but… why us?” Kuta asked.
Arkay smiled. “I thought you two could spend some time together away from the rest of us, and Letharus would appreciate you two helping him out more than anyone else, since he already knows you.”
“What, like a holiday? Or a honeymoon?” Kuta was still curious.
“I… I guess?”
Kuta turned to Ret. “A holiday sounds nice, yes?”
“It does.”
“But what about us?”
That voice came from behind Ret and Kuta. Ret had been sitting at the canteen with the Dessaron Kids, waiting for Kuta to finish their own work after a good old corruption purge.
“What do you mean, what about us?” Tanos asked as he poked Nyssi.
“Ret gets a fun holiday and we don’t? Why can’t we also go to the Shield and Stave and help out or something?”
“Calm down, Nyssi!” Kayel tutted. “Let Ret have a bit of fun. He deserves it.”
“We deserve it too though!”
“Yeah but Ret deserves it a bit more because he’s been doing extra patrols while Arkay was glum and while Elkay is ill.”
Nyssi eyed Kayel. “Okay, fine, Ret does deserve nice things and a honeymoon and stuff but I also want nice things and a chance to get off Savepoint for a while! Ret got to go to that stupid pub like twice already, he went for the winter break! What the fuck have we been up to? The same shit, but more so!”
Tanos seemed less bothered. “Sure but Ret and Kuta aren’t going on holiday, they’re going to that pub place to help that Letharus guy who looks like a cross between Kuta and mister Litvir run the place while Arkay goes on a quick holiday.”
“Yeah but still!” Nyssi protested some more. “I want off of Savepoint for a bit!”
Arkay couldn’t think of an immediate solution. He glanced around, looking for one, until he spotted Litvir. “Hey, babe, when you taking Elkay to the Pink Paradise?”
Litvir grunted. “Soon, I guess? Once Elkay has emptied his stomach and has stopped projectile-vomiting. Why are you asking?”
“Can you take these three with you?”
Litvir eyed Nyssi, then turned back to Arkay. “Why?”
“Because they want a holiday as well? And perhaps Nyssi can help find out why Elkay is ill?”
“Is Teekay coming too?” Kayel interrupted.
Litvir shook his head. “No. Teekay is a little bit annoyed at Elkay right now.”
“How comes?”
“Elkay threw up on Teekay and now Teekay has acid burns.”
Kayel and Tanos both blinked.
“I feel like there’s more to it than that.”
“Yeah, Teekay is normally stupidly forgiving…” Kayel stopped as Nyssi nudged him. “Oh. Oh. Ooohhh. Alright… yeah, I can see why Teekay might be a bit annoyed at Elkay.”
“I still don’t get it.”
Nyssi nudged Tanos. Tanos blinked, glanced downwards and swiftly fell silent. He’d clearly received a telepathic message explaining what had happened.
Litvir thought to himself, then shrugged. “I suppose I can take those three with me. I could do with the company. And also some assistance in case Elkay decides to melt into his bed or something.”
“Do you even know what’s wrong with Kyr Elkay?” Ret asked. “Because he does not seem well at all.”
Arkay frowned. “The current theory is that Elkay has something in his stomach, that he can’t seem to get rid of. But since Elkay and I are… fucked up, physically, and all that, we want to speak to an expert before we just stab Elkay in the stomach again to try and fix whatever is wrong with him.”
“Ah… wait… Again?”
“Well, it worked for me, so we tried it on Elkay and he was alright for a few hours but then he got ill again.”
Everyone stared awkwardly at Arkay.
“With Synaisthyns, literally anything can happen…” Arkay eventually tutted. “We’re rather fucked up. But anyway, Litvir, can you take Nyssi, Kayel and Tanos with you? So that they also get a holiday of some sort so they don’t feel left out?”
Litvir smiled. “Sure, I can take them with me. It is not a problem. As long as Retvik does not have any issue with it.”
“I do not have an issue, but please do not take too long on your trip. Things are starting to pick up again, and I do not want too many of us away for too long. Especially with two of our most powerful and versatile members being away at the same time.”
“I’m sure everything will be fine!” Arkay grinned. “Like, I’m not going that far, and Litvir isn’t going far at all. If anything happens, Litvir will be back here with Elkay and most of the Dessaron kids in no time.”
“I… I guess…” Retvik grunted. “But you know I do not like being separated from both of you.”
Litvir patted Retvik on the shoulder. “Like Arkay said, everything will be fine. And Arkay and I will make things up to you when we get back.”
“Very well. Kuta, Ret, you two will be accompanying Arkay on the Souldrainer’s Plight, the rest of you will be on the Thantir Three, as it has more space for the five of you. All you, pack your stuff and get ready to go. We meet back here in five hours.”
Retvik clapped his hands, dismissing everyone. Kuta and the Dessaron kids rushed off, and Litvir disappeared into a shadow, but Arkay remained for a moment.
“Is something wrong, Retvik?” Arkay asked.
“No, I am just having one of those moments where I feel something bad will happen. And I am a little worried about Elkay.”
“Oh, me too, I have had it constantly since I had that stomach thing. But… well, we fixed me, and I’m way more complicated than Elkay is. Plus, we’re all big, tough guys. We’ll be fine, no matter what.”
Retvik grunted, then glanced at his wristband. “You are right, Arkay. However, we have twenty minutes of spare time. May we snuggle, briefly?”
Arkay grinned and grabbed Retvik by the hand. “Of course, my silly flaming angel. Of course…”