Thad’s fingertips lightly trailed across the spines of the books as he scanned for potential integrations. He’d found that most books tended to lean towards bronze or silver rank knowledge. However, the few he had integrated had given him a baseline knowledge of rituals, arrays, healing magic, and Pallimustus flora and fauna.

  In nursing school, he’d always joked about wishing to absorb books through osmosis, and now that he could, he was ecstatic.

  -So you're lost: navigation for dummies [iron], Do you wish to copy? Y/N-

  Oh, yes, please.

  Thad pulled the book from the shelf and hovered his hand over the center of the tome, feeling his manna dip slightly.

  Planning to integrate it while he was sleeping, he thought of Clippy and wondered whether his familiar would interact with him again. Other than the standard text, the little mascot had been eerily quiet. Thad had even tried calling for him a few times but had just gotten standard assistance queries.

  Can’t believe I’m getting silent treatment from Clippy of all people.

  Thad replaced the book on the shelf and walked away towards a study nook where Dustin and Neil were reviewing various texts in preparation for their first official contract.

  “I’m surprised you're allowed to just roam around by yourself,” Dustin said as Thad approached.

  “I’m pretty sure Jiselle and Pietro know precisely what I am up to at any given time,” Thad replied, pulling one of the open texts towards himself, feeling the silver rank.

  “Yeah, wouldn’t want you setting fire to the archive again.”

  “Ahh, so that’s what it was.”

  Neil and Dustin gave each other a look, but as they had gotten used to Thad’s bouts of amnesia at this point, they just shook it off.

  “So, I was thinking—”

  “Oh, that’s a new development,” Neil said offhandedly, only to pale as he realized he’d said it in response to Thad, who looked affronted for a second, only to laugh.

  “Ok, noted Neil. But no, I was thinking, we should grab new gear. My robes aren’t suited to my fighting style and Neil… well.”

  “What?”

  “I just think we could find you something more uh… form-fitting.”

  “What’s wrong with my clothes?” Neil said, which made Dustin and Thad both glance knowingly at each other before looking back at Neil.

  “Nothing, they just—” Thad said before Dustin cut him off.

  “They make you look ridiculous.”

  “Ok, how long have you been holding onto that, Dusty? And Thadwick, you said you liked my clothes. It was like the only nice thing you said to me.”

  “Well… my opinion on the matter has changed,” Thad said, wincing at the realization that Thadwick had been purposefully sabotaging Neil.

  “I can’t just buy a new wardrobe. My Aunt designed these… what looks so wrong with them?”

  “I mean, Neil, I’ve seen you shirtless now, so I know what a good physique you have. You would kill it if you even had something that fit.” Thad said, motioning vaguely at Neil.

  “I would kill it? Isn’t that the opposite of my role?” Neil said, which got a surprised look from Thad.

  “I mean, you would be a knockout.”

  “A knockout?”

  “I think Thad means you're attractive, Neil, if you didn’t look like you were wearing a festival tent.”

  “You think I’m attractive?”

  “I mean, all essence users are,” Thad said, decisively not looking towards Neil.

  “Some more than others.” Dustin sighed, putting his head on the table.

  “Why are you acting all upset, you just said I looked like I was wearing a tent!?” Neil said, feeling both embarrassed but secretly a little flattered.

  “If you get a fashion sense, I’ll be the least appealing of the group. I’m already not winning with the ladies as it is.”

  “Wait, so you think I’m the best looking?” Thad said, pointing to himself, which made the other two men give him a dirty look.

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  “That’s like your only redeeming quality, Thadwick. Well, that and your last name.” Neil shot at him, which made Thad raise both hands in surrender.

  “Ok, I think we’re all feeling attacked now. Changing subjects. Neil, how did your chat with Cass go?”

  “What?” Neil said, switching into panic mode, as he thought about his last conversation with her.

  “Oh, yeah, what did she want to talk with you about? Are you dating a Mercer or what?” Dustin said, propping his head on his hands and looking expectantly at Neil, who was starting to turn a bit pink.

  “I think we should go if we want to catch the trade hall before it closes for the night,” Neil said, standing up and grabbing the books that had been in front of him.

  Thad turned one way, then the other in the mirror. The combat robes were more in the vein of a D&D monk than Jason’s warlock, with a color scheme that matched the brighter colors associated with greenstone. The magical weaving was a masterpiece.

  “The deflection and repair magic on this is exquisite, Gilbert.”

  “You should’ve seen the trap weaver armor I had in few weeks ago. One of my best works, a real Chuunibyou moment, as Mr. Asano put it.”

  “What’s a Chuunibyou moment?” Dustin asked as he lounged on a couch near the dressing room and snacked on a steamed bun.

  “Jason Asano, in all his edgy glory,” Thad said without any further elaboration as he stepped away from the mirror.

  “What does—? Oh, would you look at that! A Garment that actually fits, a miracle from the Tailor himself.” Dustin said as Neil came out in a new set of robes.

  “I don’t think implying a god was involved in this is fair,” Thad said, walking up to Neil and adjusting his collar slightly. “Unless you’re calling Gilbert here the Tailor, then I’ll agree he did work a miracle.”

  “Hey,” Neil said, shooing away Thad, who gave him a slight smirk before only taking one step back, looking Neil up and down.

  “It doesn’t matter, because these are far too nice… and expensive,” Neil said, starting to feel self-conscious as Thad took the edge of his sleeve in his hand, his finger tracing an invisible pattern.

  “Is this a growth item?” Thad said to Gilbert, who smiled.

  “Lord Mercer, I see you have a good eye for quality.”

  “I heard from a good source that you were one of the best tailors in the city. I’m just glad to be right,” Thad said with a smile, dropping the sleeve and clapping his hands together. “We’ll take it.”

  “Thadwick… Thad, I can’t just—”

  “It’s an investment, Neil. And may I point out that you said my only redeeming qualities were my looks and my last name. Not surprisingly, one of those comes with money. And a family that’s just excited not to see me spend it on alcohol. Besides, I must make up for allowing you to dress this poorly for so long.” Thad said, waving off Neil before looking at Dustin.

  “You wanted those boots from earlier, right?”

  -Personal Assistant is online-

  -Why did you do that for Neil and Dustin? -

  “Glad to see you back,” Thad said as he opened his eyes to the dim bedroom he was meditating in.

  -You know they’re going to leave you.-

  “Maybe, to be honest, they ended up on better teams that way. However, Thadwick dissolved the team himself when the star seed was puppeteering him, so who knows what will happen?”

  -You don’t think you’ll be implanted?-

  “God, I hope not. Still working out how to avoid that without a penalty, though. Maybe exposing the church earlier?”

  -You didn’t answer my first question. Why would you do something for someone who doesn’t even want to be around you? -

  “They’re both good guys in a tough position with their families, and they’ve put up with Thadwick for so long, don’t they deserve a win?”

  -Isn’t the win not working with Thadwick anymore? -

  Thad stopped and looked at the mascot positioned to the side of the screen. It was neither jumping around nor angrily responding. Just being.

  “Clippy, are you ok?”

  -What, why would you ask that? -

  “You’ve just been… distant. I was worried about you.”

  -Worried… about me? That’s ridiculous, you don’t even know who I am.-

  “Yeah, but we’re still a team. And you seemed pretty upset the last time we talked. I know we’ve had our differences. But the more time I have had to think, the more I realize you were right, I could have handled that situation a bit better.”

  -…-

  “I could’ve safely disbanded the men over a few weeks instead of cutting them off cold turkey. Hell, I know one man in the books specifically said working for Thadwick kept him from the crime lords, and now I might’ve just pushed them right into that life.”

  - You were trying to do the right thing, though. Disbanding the project, that is. -

  “Oh? That’s new.”

  - But yeah, I was right! You handled it poorly. -

  “There’s the Clippy I know.”

  Thad laughed as the paperclip gave an angry bounce.

  -I’m trying to be nice to you. -

  “I can see that. Oh, I have a gift for you.”

  -How do you have a gift for me? -

  “I want to integrate the memory files for Dustin and Neil.”

  -You're not scared it’ll warp your view of them? –

  “I still don’t like the memory integration. I don’t like feeling so…” Thad shook his hands around with a grimace.

  “They say the initial feelings you have are what you were taught, but it's how you react that defines who you are. The memories are like that. So as long as I stay true to myself, I think I’ll be fine. Besides, I feel shitty not knowing stuff like their birthday or favorite color.”

  -I don’t think you’re going to get that information from the integration. –

  Thad stood up out of the meditation pose and walked over to the bed.

  “You do have access to the files. So, you’d know, I guess. I just… I really… I need this to work out.”

  Thad flopped down onto the bed, then rolled over and looked at the ceiling, putting his hands behind his head.

  “Are you ever lonely, wherever you are?”

  -...-

  “I'm lonely,” Thad said, weariness in his voice.

  -...-

  “I miss my friends, hell I even miss Marcus, that stupid hot head.”

  - What were they like? -

  “Clippy, are you actually taking a personal interest in me?”

  -As I said, I’m trying to be nice, and you’re being kind of pathetic, right now. -

  “Did you know you’re really shit at this?”

  -I’m aware… but at least I’m Redacted trying. -

  “Fair enough, baby steps, I guess,” Thad said with a laugh before easing into a retelling of how he’d met Fritz and Nico when he was 17. Finding the loneliness a little more bearable.

  Updated Neil Outfit Design

  Neil post workout