Classy, Controlled Chaos - The STEAM Team Adventures

🔥 Liquidation [5/8] 🔥

Addison's POV:

Talking with my friends over some boba tea was the best way to start a juicy conversation I could thrive off of.

Yes, I know that I loved reading a lot more than speaking, but there's no harm in listening in on some nice stuff.

By stuff, I mean news.

It was mildly unsettling that only three of my four buddies were here, though.

Marshall sat beside me, chewing on some boba pearls while zoning out beyond Lunarift's horizon.

Edward had his nose in a book, with Sophii practically shrouding him in her shadow.

I sat there, trying to come up with a decent conversation starter to get the river flowing.

"So, how are you all doing?" I asked, glancing between the three of them.

The most boring opener I could have ever said, out of the millions I had to choose from.

Not the best start, but it was definitely something.

"Worried." Marshall mumbled, slowly coming back into orbit. "Worried for the future of this library, and worried for our own future as well."

"I'm worried for Marshall's sanity," Sophii joked, earning a chuckle from Edward. "But in all seriousness, I'm doing just fine. How about you?"

I gave her a somewhat absent smile. "Decent."

Huh, weird... Marshall never acted this way before.

Did something happen to him?

Probably not, maybe he's overthinking.

"Marsh?" I asked, gently prodding the blacksmith in the side. "Whatcha thinkin' about? You're not usually this tense."

"I'm fine," He began, his amber gaze locking with mine. "But Tia won't be by the time she comes back."

"Stop, you're gonna jinx it." Sophii meowed, making biscuits in Edward's hair. "Plus, if you keep this up, we're probably gonna think you've been possessed."

"Yeah..." I sighed, reaching toward him. "Lighten up a little. You're safe with us, remember?"

He promptly swatted my hand aside, a puff of smoke trailing from the corners of his mouth. "Stop it, Addi. We're never really safe."

"It's quite rude to hit a lady, don't you know that?" The prince snapped from beside him, rising from his chair.

Sophii sank her claws into his shoulder, not enough to hurt him, but enough for him to sit down from the pain. "Stop, don't interfere. We don't need anyone getting hurt."

Marshall immediately saw his mistake, his gaze softening. "I... I'm sorry, Addison."

I shook my head. "It's fine, I guess..."

Edward took an obnoxiously loud sip of his boba, choking on a pearl before coughing it out. "Ow, that kinda hurt. But anyways, as I was trying to say before my drink rudely tried to assassinate me-"

He promptly lifted Sophii off of his shoulders, holding her up in the air. "Who wants to head over to Pyronica for some food?"

"It's too dangerous to go outside." I argued, casting a side glance at the phoenix. "As Marshall said, we can't risk getting hurt. Those sorcerers could be anywhere."

"You guys keep changing sides on this debate, it's making my pea-sized brain hurt." Sophii grumbled, pressing her inky-black ears back against her head. "Can we not argue about this for once?"