Happy Friday! First off, I'd like to thank everyone who's reached out via comment or PM. I am a little bit overwhelmed by all the well-wishes and congratulations and I'm so, so grateful to be surrounded by so many amazing and caring people. You guys are awesome; it's such a privilege. Thank you! :)

Now that Jenny's driving (metaphorically, of course) where will she and Toby go now? I think I said it last week, but props to this girl for gracefully giving her guy an out. The guys that I know aren't always good at things like sharing their feelings or getting out after they get themselves in over their heads (when you're in too deep, stop digging! XD). While not everyone appreciates being given an 'out,' because it can feel a little obnoxious, and maybe a little holier than thou, but I can think of a few times when someone's let me know that they appreciated the 'silent rescue'. (To be fair, the one guy who jokingly called it that probably didn't need the 'out'.)

Guest: Thanks again, my friend! That means so much to me. I really appreciate it. :) I'm glad our intrepid Toby has won your support. Neither he nor Jenny gets a lot of screen time in canon, so projecting plausible personalities on them was a fun little project. It's comforting to hear that you like the little side stories and asides in my A/N. I know I can be pretty chatty. Sometimes I worry that I end up just talking to myself and inflating my chapters, lol. But I'm happy to keep on sharing if there are people who get a chuckle out of my snark and sass. Thanks for checking in on me. :)

- K. Chandler

After Toby and Jenny finished their dessert, they went back outside. It was still pretty early, maybe five or six in the afternoon. It was still light enough to do something else.

"That was an awesome start! What do you want to do next?" asked Jenny.

"Ask her if she wants to do another restaurant. Maybe the first one wasn't to her liking," crackled Lyon's voice.

"Do you want to do another restaurant?"

"Actually, do you just want to get some sandwiches from that cart over there?" asked Jenny. "Then we can eat while we walk around. It's almost too nice to be inside."

"I mean, that's not really—"

"Agree with her, because that's what she wants to do."

"…but that sounds great," finished Toby.

"Nice save," said Lyon.

"Cool," said Jenny. "Come on, you'll love it."

Food in hand, they strolled through winding blocks paved with cobblestone. Jenny pointed out her favorite features and attractions: an open square where the annual Macaroni Festival took place, the best bench for people-watching, the street with the prettiest Christmas decorations, and the shopping center's centerpiece: the fountain in the very center that lit up different colors at night.

Jenny slowed when they started down a block that was lined with chic boutiques and designer outlets. Mannequins posed in twos and threes, like a freeze-frame from a movie in each window display.

Jenny looked at each display pensively, her eyes drifting from one mannequin to the other. Toby had never seen her so serious before.

"You're into clothes, right?" he asked.

"Well, sort of," said Jenny. She stopped at the next window, squinting.

"Is there some reason you're studying them?" asked Toby.

Jenny paused, looking at him curiously.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to be awkward," said Toby. "I probably shouldn't have asked."

"You're not awkward," said Jenny. Then she sighed, her expression turning serious. "Promise you won't laugh."

Toby shook his head furiously.

"I haven't told anyone else this, but eventually I want to quit modeling," said Jenny.

"What? Why?" asked Toby.

"Eventually, I don't want to be the one wearing the clothes anymore," said Jenny simply.

"You don't want to wear clothes?!" stammered Toby.

"Not like that," laughed Jenny. "You're so silly!"

"Sorry, sorry! I didn't mean—"

Jenny put a finger to Toby's lips to shush him.

"What I meant was… I want to show people that I'm more than just a pretty face. One day, I want to quit modeling." Jenny paused, holding her breath as if waiting for a reaction.

"Oh," shrugged Toby.

"Oh?" echoed Jenny.

"Cool?" asked Toby. "Were you expecting something else?" he asked.

"I thought I was going to get more of a reaction than that," said Jenny.

"Yay!" said Toby, pumping his fist in the air, and feeling more than a little silly.

Jenny laughed. "Seriously, though. What do you think of when you see me?" asked Jenny.

"I think you're Jenny," said Toby, honestly.

"Yeah, but what does that mean? A lot of guys, they think they know me. They think that because I'm sort of a household name and I do interviews and appearances, that that's who I am."

"Isn't it?" asked Toby curiously.

"Yes and no," admitted Jenny. "Sometimes, it's really easy for me to get hung up on what people see and how people see me. When I go out, I end up feeling like I need to look a certain way and I need to be a certain way. And everyone judges, you know?"

"That sounds tough," said Toby.

"It's not too bad. I mean can you imagine being Princess Hisui or Mirajane? I probably shouldn't complain so much," said Jenny. "But you understand. Like I just told you that I want to do something entirely different and, you know, quit modeling, you didn't make a big deal about it."

"Did you want me to?" asked Toby.

Jenny shook her head. "It's nice not to be judged."

"What about your team?" asked Toby. "They don't judge you, do they?"

"Not really," said Jenny. "Hibs and the others are nice, but I don't think they want the same kinds of things I want. Like, maybe Ren does. Hibs and Eve? They're at a different stage in life, if that makes sense."

"How do you know that I'm not the same way?" asked Toby curiously.

"Just a hunch," said Jenny.

"A hunch?" asked Toby.

"Yeah, like… do you think I'm weird?" asked Jenny.

"No," said Toby quickly.

"Do you think the things that I want don't make sense?"

"Of course not!"

"Do you find my always smiling-ness annoying? Like, does it come off as fake?" Jenny asked, grinning broadly and pointing at the upturned corners of her mouth.

"I don't think so," said Toby, frowning. Was this a trick question?

"Guess what?" said Jenny.

"What?" asked Toby.

"We just might be compatible."

"Might?" asked Toby.

"Yeah, I think—oh, wait. One more question. This is the deal-breaker…"

"Okay. What is it?"

"Pineapple on pizza. Yay or nay?" she asked solemnly.

"Um, no?" asked Toby.

"Eh, I guess nobody's perfect," said Jenny. "It's cool though."

Toby blinked. "O-okay…"

"That was a joke," said Jenny, cracking a grin. "So you're not fazed by my plan to quit Sorcerer Weekly?"

"It's not what I would have expected, but it's not a bad thing," said Toby. "As long as it's what you want to do, then I can't see why it would be. What would you do once you quit modeling? Do more guild work?"

"Maybe, but probably not," said Jenny. "Actually, I've always wanted to start my own business."

"What sort of business were you thinking?" asked Toby. He couldn't imagine Jenny running her own restaurant or working as a construction worker.

"I'd have my own clothing line," said Jenny. "I'd design fashionable combat gear for trendy guild mages. Lord knows, we need it. I mean, have a look at what some of the other girls are wearing. Their clothes aren't durable, and they don't hold up well in a fight."

"That's so cool! What would you call it?" said Toby.

"I don't know yet… I never really thought about it," said Jenny pensively. "It'd have to be something bold, yet fun. Classy, but still playful. Something that says: Imma kick your butt!" She laughed softly.

"How about… Jenny?" suggested Toby.

"Jenny…" she repeated before smiling wide. "I like it," she said softly. "Leave it to you to bring out my inner narcissist!" she laughed, smacking Toby in the arm.

"I thought it was appropriate…!" protested Toby.

"You're sweet."

"So, would you just do fighting-clothes? Or would there be other stuff too?" asked Toby.

"Well, since you asked…" said Jenny, pausing thoughtfully. "I'd start with different types of clothes. But eventually, assuming my brand takes off, I'd go into something else related."

"Like what?" asked Toby.

"I don't know," Jenny shrugged. "Depends on what takes off. Like if it's my line of dresses and formalwear, I might do some accessories and shoes. And If it was my line of athleticwear, I'd… I don't know…"

"Maybe go into fitness centers and health-food?" asked Toby.

Jenny grinned. "That's a really good idea… Exactly! See, that's what I like about you," she said with a nod of approval.

"What do you mean?"

"You're so honest. You don't hold anything back and I appreciate that," said Jenny.

"My friends say that I have no filter," admitted Toby, wincing in preparation for a scolding by Lyon.

But Lyon was silent.

Actually, he had gotten so far into the conversation with Jenny that Toby hadn't even realized when Lyon had stopped providing running commentary. He was sure the ice-mage would have had some biting observation.

But Lyon had been unusually quiet for the better part of the afternoon.

Toby's eyes widened, dread creeping down his spine. "Lyon!" he wailed.

"Lyon…? Where?" asked Jenny.

"N-nowhere…." Said Toby.

Toby looked over his shoulder, catching sight of his wingman, tailing him from a distance. He waved at Lyon frantically.

Lyon motioned back. Toby wasn't quite sure what he meant, but he could guess… either their lacrimas weren't working or someone was getting decapitated. Actually, it was probably the first, since the second didn't make a whole lot of sense.

"What's the matter?" asked Jenny.

"Nothing! Nothing. I'm totally not waving at nobody over my shoulder! Nope."

Toby looked around wildly. Lyon couldn't help him anymore. He was on his own now. He was on his own…

Jenny glanced in Lyon's direction with a sigh. But her frown was gone as quickly as it had come. She turned back to Toby with a broad grin. She wasn't mad, so she must not have seen him.

"I have an idea…" said Jenny.

"W-what?" asked Toby.

"My turn to surprise you. Come on!" she said, grabbing his hand. She pulled him down the street.

Toby threw one final glance over his shoulder, but Lyon had disappeared. What was he going to do without his wingman?

The training wheels are off...

Hopefully, this adds some depth to Jenny's character too. She probably comes off as a little bit too perfect, but that's sort of intentional. For one, like she points out here, she's the Jenny Realight, so all of Fiore knows her by reputation. Even Toby has her up on a bit of a pedestal, so we're not going to get her flaws through his eyes. The fact that he knows that he's super awkward doesn't help, because she's like a goddess in comparison. It'll be a future story before we'll see a more flawed Jenny (and a fairer assessment of Toby) through her eyes.

Next time, in [Mazeverse] Call Me Cyrano, It would be fine. Perfectly fine. He and Lyon had been cut off all afternoon, and he had survived on his own. Granted, Toby hadn't known that he was flying solo, but still…

Stop back next Friday for the next installment, or just follow me, Karine of R011ingThunder.