D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

Chapter 2020: Chapter 2020 A Moderate Amount of Eavesdropping

--- Kat ---

*So like... do we follow him?*

[I want to say this is a bit too convenient that we’d just so happen to stumble over someone that might know about or possible caused the explosion in question... but considering where we are perhaps it was set up this way. I think we HAVE to at least see where this goes for a bit.]

Kat agreed and had already started to drift after him. It seemed like Jared was dragging Paul down the hall back to his sleeping area and it was easy to follow him. For now anyway. The real issue would be what happened afterwards. What would they do if he went into the main hall? Or much, much worse, into the maze and out of the base entirely. He wasn’t one of their targets... but perhaps he should be.

*The real question is going to be how long we follow him. This time was picked for a reason, and we have suspects.*

[Right but this guy could’ve been hired by two of them. In fact, there was almost certainly SOMEONE hired if it was one of those two. Surely it’s better to catch that guy?]

*I can feel your somewhat playing devil’s advocate. Of course it’s better to catch that guy I just worry that we’re missing out on other stuff. Like, assume this isn’t coincidence. Isn’t it possible that we’re being ’deliberately’ delayed so we miss something else important?*

[Are you suggesting we split up?]

*No I guess not. We need to stick together to stay safe. I can’t hear anything myself, and I’m much better as a scout now that I’ve got my mist trick. It’s still super annoying though.*

[Let’s follow them for... ten minutes, then decide again.]

Kat agreed with her girlfriend and Jared had just dumped Paul back into his sleeping bag. Well, it was more like ’on’ his sleeping bag and Jared didn’t care that much about positioning his potential brother-in-law in a comfortable spot. Lily had moved up a bit to the next corner spot to be closer to the action and hear anything being said... but there was nothing so far.

Jared came back into the hall after dusting his hands and continued on to the main room. It made it easier to accept following him if he was heading in the ’correct’ direction. When they got to the main room, it was easy for Lily to slip in unnoticed. There were plenty of plants, and as Kat had found earlier, chairs with great big gaps underneath them to use as cover.

The pair followed along behind Jared as he made his way up to the second floor. Kat hadn’t noticed when she was briefly casing the place, but the second floor seemed to be sort of a café. It wasn’t a proper mess hall, but there were quite a few different chilled drinks available and a collection of snack items for sale.

Some were just dumped in piles on a table and you had to leave behind some money to take them. Perhaps enforced by an enchantment, or just the honour system. In other spots, someone had set up a little booth and was selling food there. Nothing heavy, just snacks, but higher quality ones then the random stuff on tables. Lily’s nose picked up more than one thing that seemed quite nice, but now wasn’t time for that.

Jared, once he had some food in hand, moved up to the top level and found a corner to relax before pulling out a bunch of enchanting tools. Lily was interested to see how that worked exactly... when someone came storming over. A woman. ”Jared you better not be doing what I think you’re doing.”

Jared froze, turning slowly to see who it was. ”Ah... um... Melody. What did you think I was doing? And how did you find me?”

”You always pick this corner and I THINK you were about to do some enchanting work in the middle of the main hall,” grumbled Melody.

”Hey, that’s not it,” countered Jared... and Kat noted this felt ’true’ to her. Which was weird... was it because she was hearing it through Lily’s ears? Melody however, raised an unimpressed eyebrow at him and didn’t say anything for a few moments. ”Technically, we’re not in the middle of the hall...”

*Wait that was it?!*

”Jared, you know we have rooms you can use if you want to enchant,” said Melody with a sight. Kat was trying her best to get a look at the other girl. She was an elf with fairly small ears for her race. She was also just short in general, though still quite thin in build. She had super voluminous hair to make up for it though. It went all the way down to her feet and it was cartoonishly large, spreading out behind her back to be wider than she was. There had to be magic involved somehow.

”Yeah, and not only do those rooms cost money, but you’re not allowed to bring in food, or even books to double check things. Plus, I was banned for three months after the last incident and it’s only been two,” Jared stated.

Melody sighed, ”Look, if someone important catches you it’s going to be big trouble. You’re lucky your cute.”

”You know I have a girlfriend. One I’m quite serious about,” Jared said, immediately defensive.

”Yeah? And? She’s cute too. I’ve made no secret of that,” stated Melody.

”Yeah and we don’t appreciate you trying to separate us,” stated Jared.

Melody sighed like she couldn’t believe Jared had just said something so dumb. ”Jared. I’m not trying to pull you apart, I’m trying to end up squished in between the two of you. Or perhaps you’d prefer that decision. I’m not judging here,”

Jared sighed, ”Look, Melody, getting involved with Jane has got to be the single, biggest stroke of luck I’ve ever had. She gets me. I get her, and I have no idea how or why she thinks I’m good enough, especially considering my profession and her magical prowess. But she DOES like me. You’re not bad to be around Melody, and I think of you as a friend but I am NOT going to risk the greatest thing in my life for a threesome once in a while.”

”You say once in a while like I wouldn’t try to be with you both all the time...” sighed Melody.

”Look, it’s just... it’s not my place. Maybe, if you convince Jane I could be talked around but even then it’s going to be a hard sell. Things aren’t perfect between me and Jane but it’s fucking close. I don’t want to risk that. At all,” stated Jared.

”Did you have another fight with Paul? You only seem to get defensive like this after running into him,” said Melody.

Jared groaned, ”Look, he was into the drugs after getting banged up. I knocked him out and put him to sleep. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Kat was debating how long to stick around at this point when Melody asked. ”Fine, but seeing as you shouldn’t be working on enchanting, I’m going to stay here and distract you. Been on any interesting jobs lately?”

”You know we’re not meant to talk about that,” countered Jared.

”So you HAVE done something. Which is weird considering you should’ve been getting ready for the big push on that warehouse. Do you think the King was serious? There’s a way outside in there?” asked Melody.

”Look, I really can’t talk about it Melody. Like,” Jared glanced around and gestured across his throat indicating it’d be cut open if he talked. ”And I think... it’s possible. I don’t really know. If it’s true... well I’m not sure attacking the place was the best idea but I’m not the boss here so.”

”Wait it was that serious?” asked Melody. Jared just shook his head rapidly. ”Ok, clearly it was...”

Jared paused his shaking head to glare at Melody. ”Seriously. DROP IT. I cannot mention ANYTHING about the job. Not what I did. Not where. Not IF or WHO. Nothing. Please don’t ask because it would be just as bad for me, as it would be for you.”

”Oh... so has to be one of the big players then,” mumbled Melody as Jared looked like he was moments away from getting jumped. ”Oh don’t look like that. I’m not going to name any of them. Even if I’m pretty sure I can guess from your reaction who it might be. I’m happy to make you uncomfortable and tease... but I really don’t want you killed. Jane would never forgive me... and you seem pretty sure I’d be gone as well. I have no plans to die just yet.”

*Ok, that’s GOT to be a sign that it’s Appoline or Davis right?*

[I think so? I mean there are other major players and there’s still no evidence HE was responsible. BUT it’s mighty weird that we’ve got so much confirmation. The issue is now, do we have enough evidence for a full investigation? Will Jared even leave the base to be arrested? I don’t think the guards want to storm the place...]

*I see the issue. Hmmm...*