The theater emptied slowly beneath warm lanternlight and soft conversation.
Guests drifted down marble steps laughing quietly about the performance while musicians near the entrance played gentle closing melodies for the departing crowd.
Merriweather floated beside Brannic practically glowing.
"Oh, it was WONDERFUL."
She clutched the souvenir program dramatically against her chest.
"The illusion work during the third act alone was worth the price of admission."
Brannic grunted while loosening the collar of his formal jacket.
"Aye."
Merriweather spun midair toward him.
"And the prop work! Did you SEE the detailing on the duke's cane?"
"It was a stick."
"It was ART."
Brannic snorted.
"Ye near talked the illusionist to death backstage."
"He appreciated my perspective."
"He looked terrified."
Merriweather gasped dramatically.
"You wound me."
Still—
Brannic noticed something quietly uncomfortable.
He was enjoying himself.
More specifically—
he was enjoying HER enjoying herself.
That felt dangerous somehow.
The streets outside had quieted considerably by the time they started walking back through Solmere together.
Festival lanterns swayed overhead while cool summer wind drifted between the buildings.
The city felt softer at night.
Less tired.
Less heavy.
Merriweather sighed happily beside him.
"…It really was a lovely evening."
Brannic nodded once.
"Aye."
They walked in comfortable silence for a while afterward.
Not awkward silence.
Just…
easy.
Eventually they reached the crossroads separating the artisan quarter from the canal district.
Both slowed slightly.
Neither immediately stopped.
Interesting.
Merriweather glanced sideways toward him.
"So."
Brannic rubbed his beard.
"…So."
"About Jax Darquebane."
The dwarf exhaled slowly.
"Hmph."
Then after several quiet seconds:
"…I think we should consider listening to his offer."
Merriweather blinked.
Then smiled softly.
"That's funny."
Brannic raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Because I was thinking the exact same thing."
The dwarf grunted thoughtfully.
"Can't hurt to hear him out."
"No," Merriweather agreed quietly.
"I don't think it can."
The moment lingered warmly between them.
Tentative.
Hopeful.
Neither seemed entirely eager to end it.
Eventually Merriweather floated back slightly.
"Well then," she said softly.
"…Goodnight, Brannic."
The dwarf hesitated.
Then nodded once.
"…Goodnight, Merriweather."
They turned toward opposite streets.
Then both glanced backward at nearly the exact same moment.
Caught each other doing it.
Immediately looked away again.
Progress.
Elsewhere in Solmere—
Jax sat quietly outside a closed bakery beneath hanging lanterns while finishing a small meat pastry.
No spying.
No rooftop surveillance.
Just waiting.
A few minutes later, the Vixens appeared marching down the street together like a slightly intoxicated investigation squad.
Bunny spotted him first.
Her ears immediately shot upright.
"JAX DARQUEBANE!"
Several nearby pedestrians jumped.
Jax blinked.
"…Oh no."
The girls approached with varying levels of suspicious energy.
Bunny looked determined.
Nyxian looked amused.
Zee looked curious.
Llandra looked composed.
Mostly.
Jax slowly stood.
"…Good evening?"
Bunny pointed accusingly.
"Where were you?"
Jax looked genuinely confused.
"At the theater."
Nyxian narrowed her eyes immediately.
"…With someone?"
Jax paused.
"…Technically yes."
The girls froze slightly.
Zee leaned forward.
"…Who?"
Llandra crossed her arms.
"…Was it a woman?"
Jax immediately understood what was happening.
And unfortunately—
it was a little funny.
So naturally—
he made it worse on purpose.
"…Technically yes."
The exact same answer.
Nyxian's eyes narrowed immediately.
Bunny's ears drooped slightly.
The mood shifted just enough for Jax to realize—
oh.
They actually care.
Interesting.
Then Bunny asked quietly:
"…Were they prettier than us?"
The question hit harder than expected.
No teasing remained in her voice now.
Just vulnerability.
Jax answered immediately.
Without hesitation.
"Who in Solmere," he asked softly, "is prettier than you four?"
Silence.
Complete silence.
Nyxian blinked once.
Zee's cheeks turned pink instantly.
Llandra looked away before he could see her smile.
And Bunny—
Bunny looked like her heart just skipped several steps entirely.
"Good answer, Jax Darquebane," Nyxian said, smiling.
Jax shrugged lightly afterward.
"Besides," he added casually, "I wasn't there on a date."
Nyxian raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"I was setting two stubborn artisans up on one."
Realization exploded across all four faces simultaneously.
Llandra blinked.
"…Brannic and Merriweather?"
Jax nodded proudly.
Nyxian stared at him.
"…You manipulated two lonely craftsmen into romantic proximity."
"I created opportunities."
"You emotionally ambushed them with theater tickets."
"I created VERY NICE opportunities."
Bunny suddenly gasped.
"That's why we bought the balcony suite tickets!"
Jax pointed at her immediately.
"Exactly."
Everything clicked into place all at once.
The deliveries.
The children.
The secret packages.
The suspicious scheduling.
Nyxian slowly smiled.
"…Okay that's actually adorable."
"Thank you."
"It's still manipulation."
"Strategic emotional support."
"That somehow sounds worse."
The tension dissolved completely after that.
Laughter returned.
Warmth returned.
And Bunny looked noticeably relieved afterward.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Nyxian leaned casually against Jax's shoulder.
"You really do like helping people find happiness, don't you?"
Jax thought about it for a second.
"…I think life's hard enough already."
The answer softened the mood instantly.
Even Nyxian lost a little of her smugness after that.
Llandra folded her arms lightly.
"…That was surprisingly wise."
"Don't sound so shocked."
"I'm still recovering from you weaponizing street children earlier."
"That operation was flawless."
Bunny giggled immediately.
"They really thought they were secret agents."
"They WERE secret agents."
Zee smiled softly beside him.
"I don't think I've ever seen children that happy before."
Jax looked toward the glowing lanterns hanging across Solmere's streets.
"…Kids should get to be kids sometimes."
That line lingered quietly between them.
Because every one of the Vixens knew what it felt like to grow up too quickly.
Nyxian gently bumped his shoulder.
"Careful, Jax Darquebane."
He glanced toward her.
"You keep saying things like that and people are going to fall in love with you."
Bunny's ears immediately twitched.
Llandra looked away.
Zee hid a smile.
Jax laughed softly.
"Pretty sure that ship already sailed."
Nyxian smirked slowly.
"…Good."
Together they started walking back toward the inn beneath Solmere's glowing lanternlights.
Four women.
One increasingly dangerous human.
And somewhere else in the city—
two lonely artisans were probably thinking about each other for the first time in years.
Jax smiled slightly to himself.
Good.
Sometimes people just needed:
- a little push
- the right night
- and someone willing to believe they deserved happiness.