"Reed." Purrcy's voice was extra gentle.
"Goddamn," he growled. "Can't a guy get any rest?"
"I think you did enough fishing and moping beside that little stream long enough," she scolded him just as gently. "There's a special for you if you want to come play for a bit now. It's a lot more relaxing and fun than what you were put through before, and yet the challenge level is high enough for you, I think."
"Tell first," he demanded, a bit petulant.
"You get to play sticks and swords, Masters and Knights, instead of military this time, hunting the vistas Shiroe was famous for finding." He was quiet for a while, then sighed.
"You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?" Reed grumbled a bit, but ended up choosing to continue. Michael slumped in relief. "You may choose. At what age would you like to start? You will age this time and die in your time."
"Twenty-four, and I want to die in a blaze of glory at a time of my own choosing." That earned him smiles.
"Please describe what you would like to look like, including the height and size details. You are recreating your avatar this one time."
Reed took his time to do it right but without a lot of corrections. When he approved the avatar, his psyche was put into it and he was standing with them in that timeless space Purrcy was working in.
Michael embraced him. "Thank you, Reed. I've been wanting to just go out and hit things with sticks and swords for a long time."
Reed patted him on the back briefly and pulled away. "Only long enough to win those prizes we wanted way back when. Then I want my long rest."
Purrcy smiled at him and took her hug, but left Reed in the space with Michael. They would all return together as a group, as many as would stay.
-:-:-:-:-
"You know this isn't what I believe, Purrcy," Brenner complained. His dismay was very evident just in that much.
"I know. You're ready to rest in the glory of God. However you are needed by one of His creations and He has allowed it." She covered him in a warm hug spell. "I argued for your sake and Inari said something very interesting. They said that your devotion to our God would be essential. It will keep the entirety of the rest of the Eagles from becoming the destruction that causes the chaos. Your example of peaceful coexistence while at the same time being able to be a warrior of God is essential to them. The sub-guild as a whole has an important role to play in Theldesia's purpose of creation. You are necessary."
"Then, if I am to be reborn, please let me remember who my God is and of my devotion and love to him." Brenner requested.
"You will still have your list. When your heart seeks for that knowledge that you feel you're lacking, your gift of mine will come to you to teach you again. If you pray to understand, I will come and teach you what I remember and know," Purrcy promised.
She continued, "And when you pray for confirmation, God will send his Holy Spirit to touch your heart again. That will open the door to all your memories of your faith returning, so that you can relearn your testimony of God each time and then remember it was already yours from the beginning."
"Thank you, Hahaue." He paused. "This time...?"
"If you return to nearly where we left off, Shiroe is determined to play, and Michael is in agreement," Purrcy said.
Brenner considered it. "If I could play for only a little while, enough to feel like we got some good things accomplished, then I'd want to go rest."
"You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?" Purrcy asked.
"I guess continue, for a little," Brenner answered cautiously.
Purrcy asked the next required question, "You may choose. At what age would you like to start? You will age this time and die in your time."
"Twenty-three, and like I said, die earlier than later, although after I've lived long enough to feel like we've accomplished something."
Purrcy smiled. "It's already starting to sound like those who come would like to die in Reed's blaze of glory at the end."
Michael smiled and Reed chuckled a little. "Yeah, something like that," Brenner agreed. "A real awesome game ending when the final boss goes down, or something."
"We'll see what we can do," Purrcy promised. "Please describe what you would like to look like, including the height and size details. You are recreating your avatar this one time."
Brenner kept it simple, and his old Earth height, knowing what difference that would make. When he was standing with them, his eyes sparkled in their warm and kind way.
"Hey. Again." Michael gave him a one-armed hug that was soon interrupted by Purrcy getting her hug.
She rubbed Brenner's head with a large grin. "Michael's glad to have playmates. Thanks for coming back."
Brenner patted her on the head and she lowered it to let him rub it, purring for him until he woke up and stopped. He blushed. Reed and Michael laughed at him. "I forgot that happened," he said, looking away. Purrcy just smiled, then turned back to her task.
-:-:-:-:-
"H/R."
"Hello, how may I help you?"
"You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?"
There was silence for a bit, then. "Wait. What?"
"You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?" Purrcy repeated herself.
"Theldesia?" H/R was rather confused. "Didn't you call me?"
"I did. I called you H/R," Purrcy purred. "Shall I call you by your Earth name instead? It wouldn't have started the program right, you know."
There was a groan. "Goddamn, Purrcy. Please don't tell me I'm not dreaming." There was silence, then muttering, "Don't tell me, this is the answer we get for saying yes?" There was more silence. H/R sighed. "Ask it one more time. I'm still trying to understand."
"You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?" Purrcy asked patiently.
"What's it mean to 'start new'?" H/R asked.
"Your psyche will enter the Theldesian world's system to be reborn at some future date when the Eagles are needed again to prevent the world from falling into chaos."
"And to continue?" he asked, suspiciously.
"You will return to a time shortly after the Adventurers were allowed to return home to Earth and get to play with those who also are returning."
"It's vacation time?" H/R asked.
"Yes. Even for Shiroe who is very much looking forward to seeing all the vistas of Noosphere Pioneers he had to miss before."
"Hmm. Well...," he switched back to a mutter, "I might not mind getting to fly again. And the more the merrier." Back to a normal tone he answered, "I guess continue."
"You may choose. At what age would you like to start? You will age this time and die in your time."
"So many choices. Just like on the job. No insurance here, though. Umm... nineteen, no twenty. I'll be surprised to live every quest we finish."
"Please describe what you would like to look like, including the height and size details. You are recreating your avatar this one time."
H/R took his time with it, then was standing with the others already gathered. They welcomed him, Purrcy included, who was getting all her "hellos" one by one because she could.
-:-:-:-:-
"P/R."
"Mm, what?" P/R sounded like he was being woken up, or interrupted.
"You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?" Purrcy asked respectfully.
"I'll come, but I may take my turn to sit on the porch instead of play," he answered after a bit.
"That's fine," she answered. "It's your vacation."
"Nice," P/R sighed. "Wasn't there a place you created for people who just wanted to sit and do nothing?"
Purrcy chuckled just a little. "It was a place for them to be healed. I suppose if you wanted to take it on as a quest to find it, you could."
"It's not there?" he asked in surprise.
"Inari made everyone forget, remember? Only Log Horizon and the Eagles remember that, and you'll not be allowed to tell anyone else, either."
"Oh," he was a little sad to be reminded. "Well...that might be a fun quest, if you've hidden it away like that. I'll think about it while I'm on the porch swing."
"You may choose. At what age would you like to start? You will age this time and die in your time." P/R picked thirty-three and asked for his Earth body and his real name to be his name on Theldesia this time.
"Okay," Purrcy smiled and granted it. She gave him a long hug as he arrived with the rest, then left him there to be welcomed back.
-:-:-:-:-
"Shoki."
"Only Hahaue would call me that," Secretary accused.
"Indeed. You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?" Purrcy asked the obligatory question.
"We get to choose?"
"Yes."
"Like they'd be able to manage money and time without me?" he asked, almost incensed. "Of course I'm not going to be left behind."
"You may choose. At what age would you like to start? You will age this time and die in your time." Secretary gave his answers to both sets of questions, not unlike the others, including for his avatar. "Ah, and make sure it really is Shoki this time, please. I want at least one round where I get to hear the name I picked."
Purrcy chuckled. "Okay."
"Good," Shoki said firmly as he was placed with the others to be welcomed back.
-:-:-:-:-
"MasterChiefS7," Purrcy said gently. "You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?"
"OMG," was followed by a sigh. "You know, I'm way too old for playing anymore, Purrcy."
"You're allowed to choose your age and die again," she tempted him.
He considered it, then said, "No. I don't think so. It's a mental age. That's really not a reasonable thing anymore for me. I think I'll pass this time."
"Very well. Thank you for all your hard work until now," Purrcy said kindly. "Michael and Reed pass on their love as well." They blushed. No man would put it that way.
"Yeah. Same here. I'll be happy to rest now. See you 'round."
-:-:-:-:-
"Ground Safety. ...You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?"
"No way. Now we get called back?" Ground Safety grouched.
"You did want to live out your Earth life," Purrcy pointed out.
"No, we wanted to come play when we were all young and had time on our hands," he argued back.
"You have all the time on your hands you could want now," Purrcy pointed out.
He paused. "Alright. But Safety has a minor quest we want to do together on the side."
"You may choose. At what age would you like to start? You will age this time and die in your time."
Ground Safety thought about that, then said, "Twenty-two and die when the Guildmaster and Sub-guildmaster say we've met the goal."
"Please describe what you would like to look like, including the height and size details. You are recreating your avatar this one time." It didn't take him any longer to work that out and get his hellos than the others had.
-:-:-:-:-
"Aviation Safety. You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?"
"Play. I need to kill things."
"You may choose. At what age would you like to start? You will age this time and die in your time."
"Twenty-three-and-a-half and two days." The other Eagles tried to not laugh.
"Please describe what you would like to look like, including the height and size details. You are recreating your avatar this one time."
He picked his old avatar as well - from four iterations back. Purrcy had to go hunting so it took a little while to get it created. Then he was also standing with everyone.
When Purrcy wanted a hug, he put his hand on the top of her head and made her take that as enough. She let her whiskers and ears droop until he sighed and pet her twice, but that was all he would take so she left it at that.
-:-:-:-:-
Compliance answered the same way as Ground Safety had. They must have talked about it over drinks every so often, to come back for a side-quest.
-:-:-:-:-
"M/M Control - Clocktower. ...You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?"
"Continue."
"...That was fast." Purrcy pulled up short at the speed of his answer.
"I've missed being the archer, and I've got responsibilities that I need to be in my shoes to see get done," he answered.
"Ah. Got it. You may choose. At what age would you like to start? You will age this time and die in your time."
"Twenty-eight."
"Please describe what you would like to look like, including the height and size details. You are recreating your avatar this one time."
"What I looked like before is fine," he answered.
Clocktower was quickly placed with the others. He pulled out his bow before even saying hello. When he was content, he put it away, then looked around the group. His eyes did the count. "Going down the original old roster?" he asked to confirm. He got a nod. "Then I've moved up permanently this time?"
Reed gave another nod. "Master Chief asked to step out this time. Life turned him into a tired old man."
Clocktower gave a knowing nod. "That's understandable. I don't mind giving him his preferred vacation."
Purrcy stepped in and took her hug, needing to get back to work. She was a little surprised when Clocktower wasn't brief about it. She purred and pet him back, also glad to see him.
-:-:-:-:-
"QA. You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?"
There was silence. For a very long time. Finally Purrcy left him there and went on to the next person on the list.
-:-:-:-:-
"Avionics. You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?"
After a moment of silence, there was some rather colorful swearing. "I'm only going to come play if you aren't where I can see you. I can't stomach following you everywhere again."
Purrcy raised an eyeridge. "You may choose. At what age would you like to start? You will age this time and die in your time."
"Twenty-five."
"Please describe what you would like to look like, including the height and size details. You are recreating your avatar this one time."
Avionics sighed, then gave a verbal sketch. She used the visual inside his head. That was easier. When he arrived with the rest, she just moved on to the next one, respecting his request.
-:-:-:-:-
"OciferJeff - Armament. You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?"
Once again there was swearing under the breath of an old Eagle that had lived more life than they really wanted to have added to. "Like I want to go back to herding cats."
Michael interrupted this time. "Just kill them this time."
"Okay," OciferJeff said immediately. At least four of the Eagles almost jumped to attention.
"You may choose. At what age would you like to start? You will age this time and die in your time."
OciferJeff paused. "Wait. Maybe not."
"I'd miss you," Clocktower said.
OciferJeff sighed. "Fine. Thirty."
"So old," he was teased by Michael. OciferJeff just growled back.
"Please describe what you would like to look like, including the height and size details. You are recreating your avatar this one time."
With more sighs, OciferJeff finally also picked a past avatar that Purrcy had to go hunting for. The lazy ones knew how to make her work instead. She didn't mind, really. Avionics completely ignored Purrcy when she gave OciferJeff his welcome.
-:-:-:-:-
"Electrical. You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?"
"Only if I'm playing with no work, and get my cigarettes and beer for real."
"You may choose. At what age would you like to start? You will age this time and die in your time."
"...Seriously? ...I'll get my vices?"
"Yes."
"Way to take the fun out of it," he grumbled. Purrcy just waited.
"Nineteen. Legal enough to lay any girl I want, young enough to break every other law."
Purrcy sighed. "Really, Electrical, you don't have to try so hard. It isn't me you're going to have to deal with. It's Clocktower."
Electrical swallowed, or his psyche tried to anyway. Clocktower rolled his eyes. The others tried to keep their laughter silent.
Purrcy politically continued on, "Please describe what you would like to look like, including the height and size details. You are recreating your avatar this one time."
He went a little more sober then and was serious about what he wanted to look like. When Purrcy put him in the grouping, she only gave him a kiss on the cheek and rubbed the top of his head. He batted her off after the fact, then turned to Compliance and immediately started up an argument. That was normal.
-:-:-:-:-
"Life Support. You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?"
"Do I have to be called that?" he complained.
"No. Only to start the program."
"Living life by programs," he complained more. "And if I don't come everyone will fall over dead for not watching out for their health meters. I don't wanna."
"Why not?" she asked in her mother's voice since he was going to be six instead of the sixty-seven he'd passed away at.
"I don't want to be a Druid only. I don't want to have to be a Programmer at all. I want to be something completely different that I want to be, regardless of what everyone else wants me to be."
"Okay. You choose." She shut everyone else out of the rest of the conversation, even though he didn't know they were listening to begin with.
"But I don't want to lose all my stats and experience," he complained further.
"You won't," she promised him. "Remember, that was my mod to Shiroe's game on Earth."
"Oh. Right." Life Support settled down and thought hard about what he wanted. It was completely different, of course.
A buff Guardian with a two-headed ax resting over a shoulder showed up with everyone before they were quite prepared since it had been a silenced conversation. "And while I might still have healing skills, forget me realm walking. Don't want it, never did." Everyone waved hands at him. They'd already known anyway.
"It's fine," Michael said. "Master Chief didn't come so that Class is an open slot."
Life Support couldn't decide whether to be relieved or upset. Purrcy welcomed him while Avionics tried to talk to him.
Michael pulled Purrcy aside. "What's up with Avionics?"
"I don't exist to him. It was a simple request to grant, from my end. The rest of you will have to deal with him having gaps every now and again." She shrugged and disappeared again.
"Don't you think that was taking his request too literally? Surely just knowing he wasn't going to have to be a Queen's Guard would have been enough?" he asked by chat.
"Not likely," she answered flatly.
-:-:-:-:-
"Records. You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?"
He rolled over and ignored her about like QA was still. Purrcy left them next to each other for now.
She got the same reaction from Schedules. With a sigh she set the three next to each other, then stood over them and began to hum. By the time she had her spell ready, Schedules was struggling to pretend to still be dead. The three with the strongest belief in no after-life were difficult, but Schedules had been a Bard for a reason.
As soon the music attached to each spell (individually hand picked for each one) started playing in their ears, Schedules was awake. He glared at her. "Really," he finally said grumpily. "It isn't all over?"
"Not for the Eagles who signed up to come back," Purrcy answered. Records frowned, trying to still pretend. It wasn't working for him, though. Between the conversation and the music playing in his ears, he was having to admit he might just not be as dead as he expected to be.
QA, on the other hand, was doing a good job of being 'dead' still, and he'd heard the most already.
Purrcy asked Schedules the question again. "You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?"
"I'm all done," Schedules said with the shake of his head. "I wanted to be done long before."
"Very well. You're psyche will return to Theldesia and be reborn when the Eagles are need-"
QA was up, his anger pulling him out of his listening and waiting state. "Why? Why do we have to come back and be reborn to do this over and over again?"
"You tell me? What happens to a system that loses the failsafes that keep it running smoothly? What happens when a critical subroutine is left out of the next iteration of a program?"
QA opened his mouth, clenched his hands, then slumped. "Let me forget until I have to know, and then only remember what I have to remember for the essentials. I've never liked life. Even playing only took the drudgery, pain, and loneliness away for brief unsatisfactory times."
"I will hope that you can eventually unlearn that," Purrcy said softly. "It will be as you ask, but I will add in a small gift, so that in some life of yours you may finally learn the joy of living."
He turned away, but she sent him a warm hug and kiss regardless, then let him fade.
Schedules, surprised, paused, then said more calmly. "Yeah. That."
"Very well. You shall also receive the same gift. And, you will never lose the love of music." Schedules cried as he left her, to know that the only solace of his life would always be his.
Purrcy turned to Records, who was looking at her now at least. He paused, then said, "I don't hate life, but I don't want to keep living right now. One life at a time is long enough."
Purrcy nodded. "Very well."
-:-:-:-:-
"Chouren."
"I haven't been called that in a very long time. Like never."
"I know," there was a smile in Purrcy's voice. "But it begins the program to say the name Theldesia knew you by. You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?"
Training thought about that for a while. "You know, I really liked playing just about anything with Mike. I think I'm done being a military man, though. If I could just play with him for a while, I'd continue."
"You may choose. At what age would you like to start? You will age this time and die in your time."
"That's a nice side bonus, not to have to live for eternity. ...Do I have to get married and have a family all over again?"
"You may choose."
"I'm guessing that since you're thinking I'm sticking around, he's here and he's still going to be dragging me all over the planet, so I'd better start strong enough to do that. So, ...how about eighteen ...and die when my body is no longer strong enough to continue to play. I don't need to live old age all over again. That sucks."
Purrcy chuckled a bit, understanding that herself. "Please describe what you would like to look like, including the height and size details. You are recreating your avatar this one time."
He sucked air in and mused, "That's a hard one." He managed it anyway. "And please change my name from Training to Thomas."
"Not Lancelot?" Michael teased.
"Michael? You're here, too?" Thomas was instantly looking around for Michael.
"Yes. I've been allowed to be present for the return of each of my squad. I'll be glad to have you at my side, Squire."
"Can I get Master soon, please?" Thomas whined just a little.
"Yes. We'll work on that once things are settled," Michael allowed.
"Good." Thomas was standing in his body now and blinked at the two of them standing in front of him. "Are you two still together?"
"We'll discuss that when we're done collecting everyone in the sub-guild," Michael promised. Thomas gave a nod.
-:-:-:-:-
"ComOp. You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?"
"Is Shiroe going to need me again?"
"If you want. He's going adventuring this time, to see those vistas of his. You get to choose this time, though."
"Not if everyone else is here," he complained.
"Yes, even with everyone else here," Purrcy negated him. "I know what the Code says, but this is the Vacation."
Charlie considered it, then said, "Okay, but if I die early, don't let them bring me back. I'm pretty tired.
"You may choose. At what age would you like to start? You will age this time and die in your time."
"Twenty-nine," he picked slowly.
"Please describe what you would like to look like, including the height and size details. You are recreating your avatar this one time."
He also picked a past one that he modified slightly. Then he said, "Do you think I might be able to find a woman to settle down with this time?"
"Maybe. That's up to you," she answered. "If you're finding it difficult, you can ask me for help and I'll try."
Charlie nodded and relaxed a little. Purrcy set him down with the rest, gave him a hug, and left behind a purr to heal him up a little more.
-:-:-:-:-
"Beloved. ...Gareth."
"Pick one."
"It's both." He sighed at her. "You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?"
"Which ever one lets me have more time with Tetorō."
"You may choose. At what age would you like to start? You will age this time and die in your time."
"Two years older than Tetorō, and we die together. He's not allowed to sneak out without me this time."
"Please describe what you would like to look like, including the height and size details. You are recreating your avatar this one time."
"What I looked like on Earth at that age, with the usual buffs for having to live on Theldesia and be everything I'm supposed to be." He approved his avatar fairly quickly and was standing with the rest, Purrcy arriving shortly thereafter to hold him for a long time.
"What, Hahaue?" Gareth finally asked.
"Thank you so much for caring so tenderly for Tetorō. Your patience is an example to me."
"We all learned it having to take care of you, you know."
"Sorry," she muttered into his shoulder.
He patted her on the head. "It's fine, as long as I get my reward."
Purrcy nodded and whispered in his ear, "I dampened the emotions of the worst memories, and tucked them way under all the happy times with you." She got a humongous squeeze of gratitude.
-:-:-:-:-
"Bowie. You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?"
"Ah, goddamn, Purrcy. You know I don't want it and don't need it."
"Not the magic. Do you want to play?"
"As long as I don't have to know everything all the time. That really is a joy-killer."
Purrcy considered that. "I think we can take just that part out and leave in all the other things you learned from it around the edges."
"Hmm...that might work," he mused. "No paparazzi car chases, though."
Purrcy chuckled. "They don't exist on Theldesia." He stayed silent. "You may choose. At what age would you like to start? You will age this time and die in your time."
"Twenty-seven, and I do want to know that - when my death is coming. But no earlier than a few days before, and preferably two minutes before."
"Okay." Purrcy could let Bowie have that. "Please describe what you would like to look like, including the height and size details. You are recreating your avatar this one time."
He was kind and gave her a return hug when she welcomed him once he was placed with the other Eagles.
-:-:-:-:-
"Stiletto."
There was silence for a bit, then, "Hahaue...I really don't get a break?"
"You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?"
"I over-did, really. I need to rest my eyes. I love the gift and I admire you and Mike, but I'd like to rest." He was silent, then said quietly, "Besides, I'm already missing my wife. I don't want to live through the grief like that. Play and grief are rather counter to each other."
"Very well. I love you."
"You, too, Hahaue."
-:-:-:-:-
"BlackJack. You may choose. Do you wish to start new on Theldesia, or continue nearly where you left off?"
BlackJack did the djinn, folding his arms and crossing his legs to frown at her. Purrcy sighed and sat down on her haunches as large cat. He lectured her for about half a day or so until he got it all out of his system. Then he was finally willing to be cajoled into thinking properly about what he wanted to do next.
The whole team sighed in relief when he appeared with them. (She spared them the lecture.) His eyes took in the guild, then he nodded. "Guess it would've been hard to be with only one from the Intel detail." Everyone nodded.
-:-:-:-:-
Purrcy stood in the front of the Eagles, between Michael and Reed. "Okay. Rule one. This really is vacation time. You do not have to stay together, nor follow the strict rules you did last time. You should still be adults and be nice about it, respect that people have expectations, and remember that listening to understand is important.
"Because there are others with expectations, you aren't going to tell us just yet what you want to do. First there's this little meeting, then Log Horizon is waiting for you.
"Once Akiba has welcomed everyone back, then there can be the in-depth meeting where you can announce what you want to do. I think you'll want to hear what Shiroe wants to do first, then hear what Michael's thinking, but no one is going to make you stay or go."
She got nods of understanding and approval, and turned it over to Michael. "Right, then," Michael said, relaxed now. "Shiroe's going to take Log Horizon tromping all over the globe, and I think joining in on that fun would be just fine. Only Rudy and Isuzu will be missing from their group. More details are forthcoming, but we wanted to give you the time to ask any questions that perhaps the rest shouldn't hear the answers to."
Eyes looked between him and Purrcy. "Nyanta-san's here, too, isn't he?" Reed asked.
Purrcy nodded. They all sighed at her and looked back at Michael. "Don't want to see you get the short end of the stick, Mike," Reed said.
"It's harsh," Gareth said, "although I get it." He did and they knew it.
Clocktower shrugged. "It's been a crazy ride since the beginning. I can't see that changing."
Michael nodded. "She's both of ours."
They looked between the pair in a bit of confusion. Michael continued in order to clear it up for them. "It's Nyanta's round and my vacation, but if you go looking and find the two of us together, we've already got permission. Actually, ...Nyanta practically begged for the help since she's at least seven-in-one here and as difficult as she ever was."
A number of men tried to hide laughter. Gareth took on a mean calculating look, that was also very knowing. Reed shook his head. "Come talk to me first man. Don't ruin a perfectly good vacation."
That made the others laugh out loud. Michael smiled. "No. Every once in a while I just need to have her close by, just like everyone else. Since you can know and the rest can't we might use you as interference, but in the main everything should just flow like normal."
Brenner looked like he was going to argue it later in private. The others gave signs of resigned acceptance.