Chapter 11 – A Public Holiday

Arwain perked up at the sound of his morning alarm, only to flop back into his bed. He had hoped it was all a dream, but the weariness of his body spoke otherwise. A tragedy didn’t stop the need for deliveries. No matter how he felt, the day’s work had to be done.

As sure as the sun rose, people needed goods brought to them. He slinked out of bed and hobbled to the floor, his wings sending him spiraling for a moment. But just as he got dressed and was about to leave his room, a knock sounded from it.

“Huh, yeah?”

“It’s Jolly. You up?”

“I’m moving my ass right along-”

Arwain opened the door to see Jolly in casual clothing, not at all ready for work. He gave her a strange look until she pointed a finger right at him.

“Do you not remember? No work for today. The mayor called for a public holiday to thank all those in public service for their aid. Frankly, after all that went down, I think we need a day to screw our heads back on straight.”

Yesterday had been extremely hectic. On top of the impromptu rescue operations, extra requests for supplies flooded the queue. City officials were busy directing emergency and medical staff all around the city. It went on well into the night before things began to settle. Even Arwain’s impressive flight stamina had drained as a result.

“No work, huh. Then what are we supposed to do? I feel antsy knowing all that went down, and we’re just told ‘good job’ and ‘relax’. Who knows when it’s going to happen again?”

“Let our tax dollars work. It’s not our role to figure out whodunnit and give chase. When the time comes, weariness better not weigh your featherbutt down. Now come on, the group’s waiting. We haven’t even done one of those icebreaker events to promote good work relationships since the kid joined.”

Arwain sighed and eyed the back of Jolly’s head as he was dragged along. An outing to get closer with one’s teammates seemed kind of pointless when they lived together. However, one look around the main lobby of their headquarters told him that he was alone in that thought.

Queen was wearing a casual top with her favorite punk bank plastered across it, sunglasses on top of her head. Jester was strangely not in tights, opting for a gentleman’s overcoat and fedora that complemented his masculine charm. Sarge had on a halter top and jeans instead of her usual secretary uniform. Lastly, Dingleberry wore a flannel shirt and cargo shorts, what Arwain found him in the first time he visited the city.

An air of casual eagerness blanketed the room as they looked forward to unwinding.

“There’s our grumpy ace. You told me last time that you were too poor to enjoy the virtual space, so I figure that it was a good chance to school you on it.”

Queen reached over and locked arms with Arwain, and with Jolly taking the other arm, the two of them swung him around like a child between parents.

“Hey! I get it! Come on! But just because I haven’t done them all that much before, that doesn’t mean I’m going to give you an easy win.”

“Alright, let’s hit the local JiGo arcade, business expenses all covered!”

Arwain rolled his eyes and Jolly chuckled. At least, one could hardly rack up too much of a bill on kiddie games.

-----

“Dingleberry, pass!”

A light touch sent a holographic ball zooming towards Jester, who did an aerial flip and kicked it toward Arwain. Letting it bounce on his chest, he aimed a spin kick for a smash toward Sarge, who was goalkeeping. She batted it away with a single flick of the wrist, before signaling with her hand to try again with his best shot.

Since there wasn’t physically a ball in the arena, no one had to worry about hitting it too hard. Sensors all around picked up the players’ motions, making the hologram pinball around at the slightest contact with no gravity to stop it. It was like hitting a balloon but chasing the kick of a pro leaguer.

However, it was perfect visual training for those accustomed to catching packages shot at them as a day job.

Frustrated that his attack didn’t sail into the goal, Arwain prepped for a fancy rebound to drive it a different direction, only to be interrupted by a pair of wings to the face.

“Geez, Arwain. You have to keep one eye around at all times. It was too easy to sneak right under you.”

Jolly had slithered between him and the ball, intercepting it. It was dribbled away from Arwain, who had stumbled after whiffing his rebound. With a hand on his open back, she leapfrogged over him and kicked the ball to Queen.

Queen had an open stretch right to Dingleberry, who had settled for being goalie. However, experience trumped youth as Queen faked which way she would go, forcing him to dive preemptively. That left a virtually unprotected goal for her to tap the ball in.

A shot of virtual confetti rained down upon the winning team as they gathered for a pose. Moments later, a snap of the camera could be heard.

Arwain sighed as the ‘girls versus boys’ team up had ended against his favor. Jolly and Queen jumped around, brandishing an instant photo of their success to rub it in. Arwain reached out and gripped Dingleberry by the shoulders.

“When we get back, image training’s on the menu, or I’ll throw you out of the nest.”

“Wehhhh?” Dingleberry didn’t like the greedy look of competitive spirit tinged in Arwain’s eyes.

“Oh, come on. It’s just a game. Don’t go blaming your own incompetence on someone still learning,” Jolly jabbed at him. It was his own fault for losing the ball in the first place.

“That’s true, you know. A self-proclaimed ace should have proven his performance and met the expectations bestowed with such a title,” Jester added.

Arwain looked off to the side, where Sarge gave him a blank stare. A quick glance at her indomitable presence made him unsure that was even possible against her.

“Not in my house, Arwain,” Sarge added, further putting his ambitions on ice.

“Gah! Alright! Next game! I’ve got to be decent at something here!”

Jolly giggled at his childish response. He was showing every bit that he was a sore loser when it came to competing. She hoped that a different set of frustrations would take his mind off the collective failure that happened the previous day, and it looked like it was working.

Still, it was ever so amusing to watch as Arwain tried his best at every game in sight.

He thrusted his hips, spread his wings, and moved to the groove with Queen.

His wings where sheathed against an imaginary wind threatening to blow him off platforms that shrank the farther one went. Jester easily cleared well before him, the daredevil circus performer showing no hesitation.

There was even a farming simulator with easy mode controls for him to manage. Of course, Dingleberry played on expert.

Sarge took him through a haunted house, even letting him cling to her in fear as she remained stony-faced throughout.

At the end of that, Arwain looked weary and defeated, having been toppled by the best of each virtual hobbyist. Jolly grabbed his arm next, leading him to a virtual roller coaster.

With the both of them strapped in, the vehicle sailed through the air and took a speedy tour through a projection of Stratos. Jolly leaned over and grabbed his arm.

“Say, this reminds me of when we first met.”

“Come to think of it, I do remember. Some brats were making fun of you for being too scared to ride this thing. And when you asked for company, they just laughed at you.”

The roller coaster ride was designed for children to get a sense of flying before they acquired wings. As a result, it became a schoolyard bravery test of sorts.

“I was really glad when you came by and offered.”

“Really? I don’t really remember how it went down.”

Jolly giggled. It may have been nothing much for Arwain, but she recalled the memory fondly. She had begged the others to go with her, and after a while, a random kid walked by and shouted out to her.

“Wait, you said you’ll pay? I’ve never done it before but I’m in if that’s the case.”

Jolly proceeded to cry and panic while holding onto Arwain, who looked on in puzzlement. After the ride ended, her unsteady body was still braced against him.

“Huh, that was it? For something you have to pay for, I thought it would be more exciting.”

Jolly choked out a chirp of surprise. She wondered what he meant, but before she could ask, he had taken off.

“Well, it may not have been much for you. But I wasn’t jumping off buildings for fun already. That stupid streak of fearlessness is useful sometimes.”

“Thanks. I’ll be as stupid as you want if it makes you happy.”

“Haha, that it does.”

The very first time she experienced that ride, she couldn’t remember much of where it took them. Her eyes were on Arwain the whole time. And even now, the only thing that had changed was how guarded her glances had become. Not to mention, the excuses that came out of her mouth afterward when they were in public.

“Hey Arwain, let’s try harder tomorrow. But for today, you can cry on my shoulder, just like you did that one time.”

He turned to her, tears suddenly brimming in his eyes. He could hold them back when it came to the others, but for Jolly, that was never the case. Before long, Jolly had a damp shoulder as she stroked the mess of red hair on his head.

There was no shame in sharing one’s sorrow, especially with the right person at his side. He knew that Jolly would take those feelings and push him higher than ever before.

It was because of her that Silver Stream started at all. And like every time before this one, he could feel that he needed this moment with her. Tomorrow would be a brighter day.