Come see me when you get the chance. I have something for you.
Jo raised a brow at the letter in her hand, her eyes sliding down as she saw Django's name signed at the bottom. The entire note was written in the type of swirly cursive that suggested he was about to send her on a quest to the center of the Earth.
Who says he's not?
Folding up the note, she slipped it into her back pocket before closing her mailbox once more. As much as she would have liked to figure out the meaning behind Django's cryptic note as soon as possible - she knew she had some business to attend to first. Meaning delivering her latest commissions.
Heading to the wooden chest by her front door, Jo began to pull out each item she had finished the night before. The load consisted of a satchel, two wall lights, and three crystal necklaces. Thankfully, it was much more manageable to carry on her back, unlike the dining table she had to carry to Martha's only days before - with McDonal's help, of course.
Letting out a small grunt, she swung the pack onto her back and held onto the strap over her right shoulder as a form of support. The items inside chimed and jingled as they bumped one another, but Jo had given them enough padding to know they wouldn't break during travel.
Not wanting to waste any time, or energy from the weight of the heavy pack, Jo took off towards town, the collection of items bouncing gently against her back as she went.
"First stop - Albert," Jo said to herself, thankful that the man wasn't far from her own home.
She was even lucky to catch him standing outside in Peach Plaza by the fountain, making her first delivery easy. Removing the two wall lights, the delivery had made the pack noticeably lighter as she pulled it back onto her back.
"They are incredible," Albert told her, inspecting one light in each of his hands. "I have to say I'm impressed, builder."
She shrugged. "Thanks. I swapped out the regular glass for something stronger - I hope you don't mind. The strengthened option gave a better finish, in my opinion."
Jo wasn't sure why she had chosen to tell him all that. He likely hadn't cared about the materials and details, but about the end product. Perhaps she had just subconsciously wanted to tell someone about her little switch out. She had felt oddly proud of it.
"Great choice," Albert said, but as expected, his voice didn't lift higher or rush out faster. It remained steady, neutral… unfazed.
"Right," Jo said, looking off towards her next destination. "I should be going. Enjoy the lights."
They shared a wave before Jo was making her way down the walkway to Central Plaza. When she reached the plaza, she saw Carol and gave her the three crystal necklaces that she had requested. The woman seemed pleased with the outcome, and Jo decided not to mention the upgrades she had also made to her product.
Enjoying how her pack had grown even lighter, Jo headed to her last stop by taking the large set of stairs out of the plaza. She passed Molly and Polly as she went, sharing a "hello" with them as they continued in opposite directions.
Reaching the top of the stairs, she tried to recall where she was supposed to be going. All she had left in her pack was a leather satchel, which she thought she remembered was supposed to be for Ginger - but that made no sense. Ginger was not the type of girl who seemed like she would sport a leather satchel along with her sweet, pink dress.
So who was it for?
Jo paused on the path, furrowing her brow as she shuffled her feet one way and then the other, looking around. Why had she thought this was the right way to go? Was it for Petra and she had mistakenly gone up instead of just further into the plaza?
A noise of disapproval left Jo as she patted the pockets of her jeans, hoping to find her little notebook.
Nothing there.
She then moved to the pockets of her jacket, becoming pleased when she felt the book in her left side. It took seconds for her to pull it out and flip to the proper page.
Oh. There you go.
Looks like Jo had been right to go up, but she just hadn't gone up enough .
We have to go all the way up.
Jo returned the notebook to her jacket before she set off down the path. She could feel little beads of sweat appearing on her forehead as she walked, leading her to shake her head at the bipolar weather invading Portia. The day before she had needed to wear leggings under her jeans and two sweaters in order to keep warm. Now she would give anything to shed a few layers, but she figured the other townsfolk wouldn't appreciate public indecency.
After a few minutes, Jo had finally made her way back to the other side of the town and was standing at the bottom of the notorious rocky course to the top of the mountain. She recalled the first time she had taken the path to the top and how she had wanted to dedicate weeks to repair the wooden pathway for the sake of safety. If only she had made that a reality before she had to take the hike up today.
"Maybe if you jog up it won't seem so bad," Jo murmured to herself. It seemed like a ridiculous idea, but sure enough, she was suddenly running up the incline.
Panting, she reached the top and nearly leaned against the side of the building as she tried to ease the ache in lungs.
"Not such a great idea," she told herself. Closing her eyes, she placed her hands on her hips as she tilted her head up to the clear sky. If she hadn't been sweating before then she definitely was now.
With one final breath, Jo opened her eyes again and was ready to head through the doors before her. However, they had been suddenly pushed open by someone else stepping out.
Jo had meant to say something in an attempt not to startle the girl, but had failed as the girl jumped the moment she laid eyes on her.
"Oh!" the brunette squealed. She placed a hand on her chest, apparently needing to catch her breath as well. "I apologize. I didn't see you there."
Jo laughed. "No, no. I'm sorry for scaring you. I meant to come in and not linger outside."
"Would you like to come in now? Perhaps you're looking for a service from the Church of Light?" the girl said, her eyes suddenly scanning Jo from head to toe.
What was that?
"We have some clothing pieces for women. Beautiful white and gold," she continued.
Oh.
Jo wanted to laugh or even help the girl by telling her that eyeing people up and down, as she had just done, wasn't exactly the best idea. However, she found her nearly naive behavior too endearing.
"I think I'll pass for today," Jo told her. "I actually have something for you."
She then swung her bag around to her front and reached inside for the item. Once she slid it out, she held it towards the brunette with a smile.
"Here."
"Oh!" the girl said as if she were taken by complete surprise again. However, she reached for the satchel, holding it delicately in her small hands.
"Is it okay…?" Jo asked, returning her pack to its original place.
"Yes," the girl replied, her eyes wide and curious as she stared at the bag in her hands. Her fingers danced over the material, almost as if she were uncertain that the item was really there.
"Sorry," the girl finally said, looking up at Jo. The spell was broken. "I've just wanted one of these for so long, but no one ever took the commission.
"Really?" Jo said, her hands resting on her hips.
How was that possible? Seeing the way the girl had reacted to the bag was almost enough of a payment for Jo. It was so sweet and real. The wonder in her eyes had been so specific, and familiar. Jo was sure she had seen it somewhere else.
And it suddenly hit her - she had.
Last week when she had been walking through Peach Plaza and seen the girl standing up by the empty cafe. She had been standing with someone - a certain redhead. The way that she had been looking at the bag was the way that she had been looking at him.
Maybe that's just the way that she looks at everything.
Jo didn't know anything about Nora to confirm any of her thoughts.
"Yes," Nora finally responded to Jo's question. "Higgins teased that he was going to make me one for months, but he never did. It took a lot for me to actually put the commission on the board and he's just treated it like a game."
Nora's tone was soft and aloof, making Jo question if the girl was actually bothered by Higgin's stunt or just relaying information. However, Jo wasn't willing to shy away from her displeasure for the poor behavior.. Or just for the man himself.
"Higgins is a jerk," Jo said, her voice dipping. "I think he thrives on the sadness and failure of others. You'd better be careful or he'll suck the life out of you."
Nora's mouth fell open slightly, her eyes widening as she registered Jo's words. However, after a few seconds, she seemed to sense Jo's sarcasm - even though her hate for Higgin's was definitely not a joke - and replaced her surprise with a bubbly laugh.
"I'll keep an eye out for your commissions from now on," Jo told her. "That way you don't have to deal with Higgins anymore."
Nora gasped, her hand coming forward to grab Jo's. The action was unexpected, but still made Jo's hand grow warm from the touch.
"Thank you so much," Nora said. "Really, it means the world. As does this satchel. I can't even tell you."
Her hand was pulled back as Nora used it to slide the satchel over her shoulder so it sat across her body. The moment it settled into her, there was a smile spread across her entire face.
"How do I look?" Nora asked.
Jo smirked, looking at the way the satchel didn't quite suit the girl's look. It was a little more rugged, the kind that one would wear when off on a job in the desert or inside the Sewage Plant.
There was a thought.
Based on what Nora had told her about her mission, Jo knew that the girl wouldn't be doing anything to that extent. So why did she need such a sturdy and spacious pack? Certainly not just for flyers, right?
Just as Jo opened her mouth to respond, the thought hit her.
Nora may not be doing those things… but who would be? A certain someone came to mind in order to answer that burning question. Someone who would be impressed by the girl wearing the satchel.
So maybe the extraordinary way that Nora had been staring at the bag… and the same shared look she had flashed the known redhead wasn't just some coincidence. Maybe it all aligned.
Or maybe Jo needed to stop making assumptions.
Realizing the girl was still waiting on her, Jo snapped out of her thoughts and gave her a nod of approval.
"It looks great. Really adds a little something extra to all the yellow," Jo said.
Was that even a compliment? She had meant it to be.
Nora giggled. "Thank you, Josephine."
"Oh, uh, it's Jo," she said, waving off the girl's formal use of her name.
"Apologies," Nora said, placing her fingers gently over her own lips. However, she immediately lowered them as she continued. "Jo suits you much better anyway."
Jo approved of the girl's honesty.
"I couldn't agree more," she said with a nod. "Were you just headed down the hill? We could walk together."
Nora stared passed Jo, glancing down the pathway. "I was," she confirmed. "I was actually going to go meet someone."
"Oh?" Jo said as she began to lead the way down the hill. "Fun plans for the afternoon?"
Nora flashed a shy smile, tilting her head down towards the ground. "Not necessarily. I just like to visit a friend on Wednesdays."
"That's still fun," Jo stated. She couldn't help but feel that it was a lot more fun that Nora was saying, based off of her nonverbal cues. Her cheeks were becoming slightly red, her lips trying to smooth away a smile. It was sort of, and Jo never used this word, adorable.
The girl's behavior had nearly made Jo forget about who the friend in question could be. Yet, she had known that wasn't her place to try and push her nose in Nora's business.
"How long did you say that you've been in Portia?" Jo asked, dismissing her thoughts and prior conversation.
"Around six months," Nora said with a nod, her hands wrapped around the strap of her bag.
"Not much longer than me," Jo stated, bumping her with an elbow. "Have any tips for a newcomer?"
A gentle noise hummed out of Nora as she thought for a moment. "Don't mistakenly find yourself wandering into the ancient ruins without the proper gear. My curiosity got the best of me and I foolishly entered. Luckily Rem caught me before I walked right off a rocky ledge to my death!"
The girl let out a small squeak as she recalled the encounter, which pulled a laugh from Jo.
"Sorry, sorry," Jo said at once, not wanting the girl to think she was being insensitive to her feelings. "I just can't believe something that dangerous is so accessible to, well… everyone."
Jo was beginning to realize that about a lot of things in Portia. In her old town, she never found herself being ambushed by snail things or at risk of falling into a giant ruin. They were definitely unique characteristics of her new town.
"The Civil Corps are always monitoring the ruins, and the Collapsed Wasteland. They know they're dangerous and are sure to keep us safe," Nora said, sounding very matter-of-fact. "It was only a freak accident on my part. I should have been paying more attention, really."
Now Jo wanted to actually laugh at this. She fully well knew that the Corps were a force to be reckoned with and were quick to the scene in the face of danger. After all, they had come to her aid immediately when they had heard of the snail invasion. However, Jo could state those facts with a shrug of her shoulders, unlike Nora who spoke as if she needed Jo to believe her words.
It was as if she were their number one fan.
"Fair enough," Jo finally stated as they reached the bottom of the hill. She turned to look at Nora, prepared to change the subject once more. However, she could immediately tell that the girl's attention was being pulled elsewhere.
Jo still didn't want to make assumptions, but when she caught sight of who Nora had been fixated on… she found it very hard not to, mentally, point out the facts.
It was Arlo.
No assumptions. No assumptions. No assumptions.
Maybe Arlo wasn't even the friend that Nora had been referring to. Maybe this was pure coincidence that he was there right at that moment.
"Arlo! Hey!" Nora called out, catching the man's attention.
Or maybe not.
Arlo turned, one corner of his mouth raised as he was ready to greet the girl. However, the smile faltered - for only seconds - when he saw Jo standing with her.
But then the smile reappeared, touching both corners of his mouth the second time.
The whole reaction had occurred in a flash, but it had Jo's mind spinning.
"Hello, Nora. Jo," he said with a nod, his arms crossing over his chest.
"Hey," Jo offered as Nora and her came to a stop. "Fancy meeting you here."
"Ah, just a typical Wednesday," he told her. "This is my usual spot this time of day."
Interesting.
"And what a beautiful day it is," Nora spoke up.
The innocence in her comment nearly caused Jo to chuckle.
"That it is," Arlo agreed, raising a brow. His eyes then fell lower, his head tilting to the side. "Nice satchel, Nora. Great quality, that one."
A flush was evident over the girl's cheeks, causing Jo's insides to dance even though she was still not making assumptions .
Instead, she tried to focus on the fact that they were currently complimenting her work.
"Thank you," Nora replied before gesturing over. "Jo made it for me."
Arlo's eyes slid over to Jo, his expression filled with interest. "Is that so?"
"Yup," Jo replied, lifting her shoulders. "Gave me the chance to work with the skiver. Couldn't resist."
She looked to Nora who was practically beaming. Jo couldn't help the buzz running through her from pure enjoyment. She really shouldn't have been drawing conclusions in her head as she watched Nora, but it was becoming harder by the minute.
Arlo certainly seemed to have a way with the ladies.
First she had learned about Phyllis, and now Nora?
Only… Arlo didn't seem to be as unsettled in Nora's presence or as they spoke with one another. Yet, he had when Phyllis was mentioned. It was a factor that Jo also noted.
What are you? An aspiring detective?
"So what are you two ladies up to now? Seizing the day together?"
There was something in his tone that made Jo want to give his shoulder a firm shove. It was insinuating and tickling in the subtlest of ways. In Jo's mind, at least. Especially because she had known that the girl beside her had likely not sensed it.
Arlo seemed to be in disbelief that her and Nora could be spending time together. Jo could admit, they were a bit of an unlikely pair - but so were Nora and him. Nora's opposite nature to Jo's was exactly what made her already fond of the girl.
Perhaps that's why Nora felt so drawn to -
Let it go!
"Well, if you were listening , I had just dropped off the finished product for Nora's commission, but she was stepping out and was kind enough to walk down the hill with me," Jo told him.
Nora confirmed her words with a smile and nod.
Arlo raised a skeptical brow, his lips pressed together as he looked from Jo, to Nora, and back to Jo.
"I thought you said you hated going up the hill," he stated.
Arlo!
His words had been so dry - a hard statement. Jo couldn't help but wonder what thoughts were running through Nora's head based on what Arlo could be implying.
Plus, she had told him of her distaste for trudging up the incline while in confidence! The betrayal was strong.
"Hey. Don't give Nora the wrong idea here," Jo pushed back. "I don't like going up the hill because of how wobbly those wooden paths can be. That's all."
Jo gave Nora a reassuring look, which the girl responded to with a thankful smile. The last thing she wanted the girl to believe was that she didn't want to go to the top due to the Church of Light or Nora herself. She barely knew the girl - why would she try to avoid her?
"I don't know," Arlo continued. "I think it's because you're scared of heights."
Oh. That's what he was playing at.
Now his tone was familiar. It was filled with the same amusement they always shared when talking with one another. He had thrown the comment out to her almost like bait to fish, fully well knowing that she would take it.
She had to.
"I think," Jo started, raising a brow. "That you're projecting your own insecurities onto me as a form of coping mechanism. If you're trying to tell Nora and me that you need some sort of help then just say so, Arlo."
"Oh?" he said with a small chuckle. "You're going to help me, huh? You really believe that the Captain of the Civil Corps would have a fear of heights?"
She shrugged. "All the facts are there. I'm just stating the obvious."
"How about I take you for a ride in one of Portia's aircrafts and you can see for yourself, yeah?" he retorted, his voice suddenly dipping.
Her stomach flipped, but she continued on. Her voice remained steady as she was determined to win their spoken swordplay.
"Because you need the emotional support," she stated. "I fully understand. I'll do whatever I can."
Arlo shook his head, but the smile remained on his face. "You're a real pain in my side, you know that?"
This made Jo beam, the pest in her feeling triumphant. His words caused her to reach her hands towards him, giving him a few actual pokes in his side. He reacted by laughing and gently swatting at her hands.
"I know, but that's what makes me so great," Jo teased.
And then Jo registered the flash of yellow in her peripheral, abruptly bringing her back to her senses.
Nora had been just standing there, watching their back and forth, but not contributing to the conversation at all. The realization made Jo's face grow warm.
"Anyway," Jo stated, recomposing as she readied herself to step away from the scene. "I guess I'll leave you two al-"
Before she could finish her sentence, she heard someone calling her name, causing all three of them to turn in the direction of the voice.
It was Django. He was jogging from the Round Table to where they stood, a brown paper package clutched in his hand. It was an awkward shape, causing him to move slower than usual as it swung around in his grasp.
"I'm glad I ran into you," Django said once he reached them. "I wanted to make sure I was able to give this to you today."
He held the package out to her, placing it in both of Jo's outreached hands. As the item laid across her palms, she looked up at him as she still couldn't identify what could be wrapped in the paper.
"What brought on the gift?" Jo asked, bouncing her hands lightly under the weight of the object. It was sturdy, but she could tell that it was lighter on one end.
"It's a form of gratitude for all of my commissions that you've answered. The Round Table looks almost as good as the day it opened thanks to your repairs and new furniture," he told her. "I wanted you to know just how much I appreciate your service."
"Oh, Django," she began. "You didn't have to get me anything. It's really just my job."
"Ah, ah," he held up her hand, dismissing her reluctance. "I insist."
"What a gracious gesture," Nora said, her palms flat against her chest as she covered her heart. The girl's reaction broke a smile on Jo's lips, giving her the push to actually pull the brown paper open.
As the wrapping was brushed to the sides, Jo's eyes fell on an emerald green metal instead. It was smooth, running a few feet long before meeting a handle that was deeper in color.
"A sword?" Arlo asked the question before she could.
"That it is," Django stated.
Jo could see Arlo's eyes go from the man back to the tool laying in her hands. It seemed as though he wanted to say more, but Jo jumped in.
"But why?" she asked. "Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the gift, but I don't have much use for a sword. Shouldn't you keep this?"
She started to hand it back to him, but he shook his head.
"Not at all. I had it made for you," he told her.
He what?
"I have my own, but this one is yours. It never hurts to have protection as you never know when you may find yourself in the face of danger," he said.
Jo looked down to the sword. It was true. She had just been thinking about how Portia seemed to have some unusual hazards that had caught her off guard, making the sword seem appealing. But still, it also seemed a bit drastic. She didn't even know how to use the thing.
Her father had taught her how to use a hammer, a screwdriver, even a level. She had taught herself how to use the rest. No one had ever thought to teach her how to use a sword, though.
But that was because there was never a need to.
"If she needs protection then she can rely on us," Arlo stated. His tone reminded her of the same firm one he had used the day she met him, before she knew how easy-going he could be. He wasn't annoyed or rude to Django, but he wasn't amused either.
"I agree, Captain Arlo," Django confirmed. "But I also believe being able to take care of oneself, if need be, is important too."
Arlo let out a wave of air through his nose, but followed it with a shrug. "Guess I can't exactly argue against being prepared." Jo then felt his eyes fall on her instead of the sword, causing her own gaze to raise to him. "I only hope that you needn't ever use it."
"You and me both," she admitted.
And yet, even she felt better knowing she had the sword. If she ever had to use it then she was sure to make a fool of herself. But knowing that she had something of actual use in the face of danger - unlike a plank of wood - gave her a strange peace of mind.
"Seriously, Jo," Arlo started again. "You know that I'll always have your back when it comes to dealing with the dangers."
Arlo's words sank into her, causing her to swallow as she kept his eyes on her. Her lips parted as she tried to think of something to say. Why was it so hard to think of something to say when a Captain was only stating the duties of his position?
Maybe it was because it had felt strangely personal. Or maybe it was because everyone's eyes were all on her - especially two pairs that weren't really part of the conversation anymore.
Arlo cleared his throat. "As do Sam and Rem. The Civil Corps are always here."
Jo answered him with a nod, needing to tear her eyes away from him. The shift in the moment had her arms feeling heavy, making her feel as though the sword could slip from her grasp.
"Thank you, Django," Jo said quickly, her gaze snapping up to him. "I didn't mean to come off as ungrateful. It was just unexpected."
"No need to explain," he answered her. "It's an unconventional gift, but I figured it couldn't hurt to have it somewhere if an opportunity should arise."
Jo let out a single laugh as a way to release the exasperation inside of her.
"But," Django spoke again. "As Arlo stated, let's hope you never have to use it."
"Right," Jo said. "That's the plan… well, uh, I'm gonna get this home and put it somewhere safe. Thanks again, Django. And it was nice talking to you, Nora."
She then turned to Arlo, nearly dropping the sword from her hands. But he reached out to steady the weight as he placed his hands over hers. The touch ran a shock through her palms all the way to her fingertips. She needed to pull away before the whole length of the sword turned hot to the touch.
Doing just that, she took a step backward as she finally began to make her exit.
"See you around, Cap. I promise we'll work on that fear of heights some other time," she told him, managing a cheeky smile.
He rolled his eyes. "Don't go spreading around your rumors, Jo."
"Sorry. I'm no longer a cadette. I don't take orders from the likes of you," she said, her eyes surely dancing before she spun around. She didn't even give him a chance to reply before she was speed walking down the hill, the sword awkwardly situated in her arms.
However, she could feel eyes on her back as she went. There was no way of telling who they belonged to, or if they were a collection of all three of the individuals she had left behind. Still, they brought a thrill through her that she couldn't comprehend.
Reaching home, Jo mindlessly went to her chest, opened it, and threw the sword inside before she shut it again. She was nearly on autopilot, not even thinking straight as she tossed it in there still partially wrapped in the paper. Perhaps she just couldn't look at it anymore - the five minutes that she had already were enough.
Letting out an exaggerated sigh, Jo plopped down so she was sitting on top of the chest. It was almost as if she were guaranteeing that the chest wouldn't open and the sword would somehow come shooting out.
You're acting like this is some sort of monster in a horror movie. Get it together.
Listening to her own advice, Jo gave herself a bit of a shake before standing up from the chest. It was time to move on with her day. Time to get commissions moving so she would have deliveries to make in the morning, and then she could start the process again.
However, a thought suddenly hit her, making her stop dead in her tracks before she could reach her work station.
She hadn't grabbed any new commissions while she was in town.
Shoot.
Jo mentally gave herself a palm to the face as she spun around on her heels again. Looks like she would be heading back to Peach Plaza.
Only, she froze once again as she noticed someone standing just outside of her gate. The person's demeanor took Jo by surprise as he stood with his hands on his hips, puffed chest, and self-satisfied smile.
"Mayor Gale," she breathed. "What brings you here?"
Gale's smile spread so he was now flashing her some teeth. He nearly squirmed underneath his jacket as if unable to contain himself.
"Jo the builder. Have I got a job for you!"