Vices and Maces

Chapter 34: Patton Somehow Made Logan Play a Board Game

"It's not a big deal," Janus argued. "What the heck are you doing?"

Virgil threw open drawer after drawer, grabbing small items from each. "Well, I can't tell anyone anything about this, and I can't be there to help you if you get in trouble, so I am going to make sure you can protect yourself."

"I can already protect myself."

"I'm going to make it easier for you to protect yourself."

"Giving me another weapon won't make things easier. It might make things more complicated. If I'm caught with several weapons, it'll make me look more suspicious."

"But you'll also have a better chance to fight and run away!" The weredragon grabbed materials to make what was starting to look like a gun.

"Oh my god, I don't need anything big. Just... give me a weapon you already have."

Virgil's hands slowed down. "Fine." He pulled out his taser. "This will be less suspicious. If a police officer catches you with it, you can explain you only have it on you for self defense. It'll give you a chance at least."

Janus took it. "Thank you. And I promise I'm being careful with this. He doesn't even have my phone number!"

"Does he know you work for Wolfsbane?"

Janus was quiet for a second. "Yeah..."

"Oh my god you're going to die. Okay, just... if he betrays you, press the button on your wrist. Nothing has changed with that. I really need to make a tracking device to go with it."

"I'm surprised you don't already. But when you do, make one for yourself."

Virgil laughed, "Yeah, like I'll ever leave this building on my own."

"You could be kidnapped!"

"By who? You maybe."

"Well... I don't know, that Bleeding Rose leader? If he realizes you're smart, he might try to pull a Black."

Virgil shuddered. "I really hope no one tries that. I can't imagine what I would do if more than one gang does everything they can to have me."

Janus put a hand on Virgil's shoulder. "I would kill anyone else who tries. But... I can't really do anything about Black. Not without you telling me, that is. You know I'll help you out anyway I can."

"And I've told you before, this is something you can't help me with. Black has me under his thumb until I die."

"I suppose you can't tell me what it is he's holding against you?"

"Well he can't destroy my reputation worse than it already is, I can tell you that. But... I just don't want to risk it."

"Alright, I'll drop it then."

Virgil gave him a look. "Just... promise you'll be careful."

"I already did." The shifter rolled their eyes with a smile.

"Janus, promise I'm not going to lose you?"

They softened, seeing heartache in Virgil's eyes. It held a story that Janus just can't seem to read no matter how many times he sees it. "I promise I'm not going to leave you, Virgil."

~~~

"This feels so childish," Logan sighed.

"Shush," Patton hushed from where he sat on a pillow. "Now pick up the die, it's your turn."

Logan did so and rolled an eight. He picked up his little character and moved it eight paces, landing on a tile with a snake biting it.

"Oh! Back down to seven," Patton laughed.

"Seems you're still in the lead," Logan commented.

"Yes! My turn!" Patton quickly picked up the two die. He rolled it and got a four. "Dang." He moved his character the correct amount of paces, landing on neither a chute or ladder. "Okay, hear you go." The nymph held out the die to Logan.

A small smile formed on Logan's lips. He didn't particularly like most board games, especially chutes and ladders which isn't a thinking game. But it made Patton happy and giggly, and that was an adorable sight.

Logan rolled the die, and both landed on six.

"Nice!" Patton said as the other moved his pawn twelve paces, landing on a tile with a ladder.

"Well then, it looks like I'm ahead now," the halfling couldn't help but tease.

"Oh but I bet I could catch up in no time."

"This is a game of chance Patton, not skill."

The nymph rolled the die and moved his pawn the appropriate amount of spaces, somehow also landing on a ladder. "Ha!" He moved up it, getting past Logan.

The elf sat forward. "Well... you somehow did it."

"Told you so!" Patton stuck his tongue out at him.

Logan's phone went off, interrupting the game. He glanced at it and groaned.

"Who is it?" the nymph asked, grabbing the dice.

"It's my father..." The halfling picked up the phone and lifted to his ear, answering it. "Hello father."

Patton waited patiently as he heard a voice from the other side of the phone. He fiddled with the dice between his fingers awkwardly.

"It's nice to talk to you again too." More awkward silence... "I'm well, and Patton is too. What about you and mother?" Patton looked around the floor, seeing dust bunnies under the couch. They should really clean under there sometime. "Oh you don't need to do that." The nymph looked up at the elf. "Seriously father, it's quite alright, we can handle it." He frowned and waved, trying to get his fiance's attention. "Thank you for the offer but- oh no wait- father! We can take care of it ourselves!" Logan looked over to Patton with a desperate look on his face. Patton made a face that said 'yikes' when he heard the ranting Logan's father went on. The halfling huffed and spoke again, "I- fine. Goodbye."

"What was that about?" Patton asked as Logan's hand fell from his ear.

"Mother and father are coming out for a visit."

"Oh, that's not too bad." Logan let his face fall into his hands. "Right?"

"They're coming over to help us plan our wedding."

"Oh... Oh shi-itake mushrooms."

While normally Patton's almost cursing would make Logan laugh or smile in amusement, all he could manage was a single but drawn out, "Ugh..."