392 Second Chances (1/2)
/Inferno: Wind: Oops. Here we go again.
/Inferno: Pon: I don't think we broke anything. Seibel definitely wasn't some kind of demi-god.
/Inferno: Jun Li: 2 hours isn't enough to really do anything. I'm sure it's some kind of cleanup patch.
/Inferno: Nix: Seibel did say that Khione remembers being defeated and beating us.
/Inferno: Ronnie: I bet one of those super-secret NPC actors broke their cover.
/Inferno: Nix: Gotta be that.
/Inferno: Sharl: You made it nearly a week without saying anything ridiculous. Good job, Ronnie.
/Inferno: Ronnie: Thanks, sis. Let's go find Nix's room and rock his world.
/Inferno: Nix: That's one way to blow two hours.
/Inferno: Sharl: ”....”
/Inferno: Pon: Be honest, more like ten minutes, followed by a long nap.
/Inferno: Nix: Either way, it's still 2 hours!
Nix cracked open the fridge and peeked inside; it was stocked with all sorts of beverages, including beer. He popped one open just as someone knocked on his door.
Mai offered him a smile when he let her in. ”Seems like history is repeating itself.”
Nix nodded in agreement, watching the petite Asian woman walk into his kitchen. ”Isn't it kinda far for you to visit me?”
”Yep, I started walking as soon as we patched.” She helped herself to a beer, her bright smile put Nix in a good mood.
Nix opened the cabinet above the sink, last time they patched, there were dominoes and cards stashed there. ”Play cards?”
Mai took a seat at the small dining room table. ”What game?”
Nix removed the cards from the box and shuffled. ”Let's see... War or War?”
”War?” Mai bit her lip to keep from smiling. ”That's a kid's game. Know any others?”
Nix started dealing out all the cards. ”Don't be so picky; I gave you two choices.”
”That was one choice that you said twice.”
Nix nodded. ”Same thing.”
Mai straightened out her cards and flipped one over. ”War it is.”
Two hours went by quickly, with Nix dominating the game of War. He glanced at the clock on the wall. ”Why aren't there any clocks in Colonial?”
Mai offered him a smile. ”Isn't there a clocktower in Glory?”
”Right. I meant in the homes. My Turtle house doesn't have one.”
Mai shrugged and started putting the cards away. ”No idea. You think they changed anything?”
”No. I think it's basically a cleanup patch. At least I hope so. Last time I woke up in Northern Titania without weapons, armor, or credits.”
Mai laughed at his sad expression. ”I don't feel sorry for you.”
Nix smiled at her honesty. ”You want to try being me?”
”Yes,” Mai admitted.
[Thank you for your patience.]
”See ya, Mai.”
”See ya, Nix.”
[Logging Off: Virtuna]
[Logging In: Colonial]
Nix found himself in the Gemini Temple, standing next to Pon. The old man gave him a blank stare. It was precisely where they'd been four hours earlier.
Wind stepped off the platform, already chuckling. ”I guess this is where I say, good job, guys.”
Pon looked down at the baby in his arms. ”Sem?”
The blond officer was obviously still mad at him. ”I don't thi...”
Pon interrupted before she could finish. ”Want to hold her?”
Semmi stared at him for a long moment, her pretty blue eyes unreadable. ”I... Of course, I do... Dummy.”
Nix smiled at the save. ”Why don't the two of you take her back? I want to see Hyai.”
Pon glanced at Semmi. ”Want to?”
”Sure.”
Nix exited the temple, whistling a tune while he walked toward his ranch. Fajii was on an important quest, and Shae was egg-sitting. That should mean that he could spend the next few days with Hyai.
His good mood came to a screeching halt a few minutes later when he walked by Nightmare's stall. Nix felt his palm itch for the feel of a sword. ”The hell are you still doing here?”
The ugly, one-eared goat bleated at him while brushing up against Nightmare.
”Cheeky bastard. I'm going to put you in a pot.”
”Nix?” Hyai's warm voice called out to him from the balcony.
Nix narrowed his eyes at the devil-goat. ”You survive, this time...”
Hyai waited for him at the top of the stairs, hugging Nix close before raising her head for a kiss. ”Scarlett and Mortimus went to bed, they wanted to talk to you, but it got too late.”
”Why is that goat still alive? I thought you were going to put him in a stew?”