The Gossip Train

“Ah, feels good to be back!” Zale cheered as the group boarded the Vespertine.  “We shouldn’t be here too long,” Valere said. “We’re only here to bring everyone to Docarri Village.”  “Aw, alright.”  Seraï was left at the center of the ship while the rest of her group gathered those who wanted to come. A decent crowd had gathered after a while, and once it was confirmed everyone who wanted to go was there, she cut open a portal to the village for them to file through.   “See? This place is awesome!” Zale shouted, gesturing at the dome of water overhead.  “It really is, isn’t it?” Garl added, asking no one in particular.  “We should see if they have an inn we can stay at before exploring,” Valere stated in hopes the boys wouldn’t run off.  Zale was already a couple feet ahead of her but came back. “Yeah, that’d be the smart thing to do,” he grumbled.  “We have to get our rooms first because they’re not gonna let us once Zale starts terrorizing the town,” Seraï joked.  “Seriously,” Zale mock complained.  The horde of guests started to make their way to the inn. They all chatted as they walked, causing passersby to see what the commotion was. Valere was talking to Zale before she felt a tap on her shoulder.   “Hey, Valere,” Garl started, “Do you mind if me and Seraï hang back while you guys get our reservations?”  Both Valere and Zale were shocked at how upfront he was but did their best to maintain their composure.  “Sure,” Valere said. “Just don’t be out too late.”  “We definitely won’t,” he said with a smile. “Thanks,” he added before disappearing back into the crowd.  Zale turned to Valere. “Well, that ain’t suspicious.”  “Heh, yeah,” she mumbled with a small smirk.  “Next he’s gonna ask if he can share a room with her instead of me!” he joked.  Valere chuckled. “Good luck getting Yolande to room with you.”  “Oh no! I’m taking Teaks’ spot!”  “You’re not kicking her out our room! If you ever try to, you’ll be sleeping outside!”  “Like we don’t do that already?”  “Fair point.”  They stopped their banter once they arrived at the inn. It turned out to be a pretty small one though, so they had to book all of it to fit everyone.   “Are you sure it’s alright for us to do this?” Valere questioned the innkeeper.  “Of course! We rarely get visitors, so I doubt there would be any problems.”  “If someone else comes looking for a room, just give them one of ours. We can work something else out if needed,” she said, still feeling guilty.  “I’ll let you know if anything of the sort happens.”  “Alright. Thank you!” she chirped.  She and Zale spent quite some time assigning roommates and sorting the room keys. They handed out a key to each pair, though Zale asked to leave his and Garl’s with the innkeeper. Once their work was finished, the two debated what to do.  “Can’t we get something to eat?” Zale whined.  “I’m pretty sure Garl’s still planning to cook dinner,” Valere replied.  “But we always have his cooking, and I want to try something new!” he continued.  “How different could the food here really be?” she asked with a tone more derogatory than she meant for it to be.  “I don’t know, but I wanna find out! Come on!”  After dealing with everyone’s sleeping arrangements, Valere didn’t have the energy to fight. “Alright fine but you’re telling Garl about this.”  “Yes!” he cheered, dragging her out of the inn. He glanced around the village before mumbling to himself, “Now what around here looks good?”  The two began exploring the town, popping into small shops, apologizing after entering a few houses even when told that it was fine, and checking out different restaurants’ menus. Zale was crouched down, reading out a menu standee to Valere. She inspected the building as she listened, but something caught her eye in a window’s reflection. She whipped her head around to see Garl and Seraï sitting at a cafe across the street.  “Zale!” she whisper-shouted.  “What?” He looked up at her.  “I think they’re really on a date,” she said, still in a hushed tone as she pointed to them.  Garl was chatting up a storm to no one’s surprise, while also eating something. They were unable to deduce if Seraï was talking, since her mask made it impossible to tell at a distance. She clearly wasn’t eating though.  “Alright,” Zale said calmly, before turning back to the menu. “This place also has-”  “Seriously!” she shouted, only slightly louder than previously.  “Yeah. I hope you weren’t planning to do anything about it.” He shot her a stern glare.  “I’m not going to interfere, I just want to see what exactly they’re up to.”  “So you want to spy on them,” he stated disapprovingly, “We already know what they’re up to.”  “But now I get to see it for myself.”  “We already did – just now!” Zale said with clear annoyance.  Valere couldn’t think of how to phrase her thoughts. She decided to ignore his complaints and run closer to them anyway.  “Valere!” he shouted after her, but he was careful not to be too loud as to draw attention to themselves.  She crouched behind the coral lining the outdoor seating area. Carefully peaking her head above the top, she got a better view and could actually hear this time.  “I don’t think they need to know,” Seraï said.  “Why not? It’s not like they would judge you for it,” Garl reasoned.  “So it’s Seraï who wants to keep it secret.”  “I know, but it’s still a bit embarrassing,” she replied.  “Because she’s embarrassed about it.”  “We-”  Someone tugged at Valere’s hair, distracting her from the conversation.  “Are you insane?” Zale took his turn to whisper-shout at her, clearly the culprit with his fist full of her locks. “Leave them alone.”  “I’m not bothering them,” she explained. “Besides, if I were in a relationship you weren’t too keen on, I’m sure you would do something similar.”  “Yeah, me – not you! What’s gotten into you?” he asked. “Are you that bothered by them being together?”  “No!” she quickly defended herself. “I just want to know why they’re not telling us.”   “That shouldn’t matter! It’s none of your business anyways!”  “But I-”  Chairs scratching against the ground caused the two to fall silent and quickly crouch further down. They made sure to keep their voices low, but there was always the chance they heard them.  “We should try to get our room keys,” Garl said.  “Yeah,” Seraï mumbled, “Are they at the inn or did Zale and Yolande take them?”  “I don’t know. We’d have to ask.”  “Let’s get going then,” she responded, her voice sounding a bit pained.  “Are you sure?”  “Yeah.”  After the sound of their footsteps trailed off, Valere breathed a sigh of relief. She looked to Zale, smiling and fist up for “a job well done” celebration, but his glare cut straight through her.  “You know you shouldn’t have done that,” he said, clearly angry, but trying to mask it with a calmer tone.  “I know,” Valere said, feeling nervous.  “Then why did you do it?” he asked, exasperated.  “It just doesn’t sit right with me,” she pleaded. “I-”  “It doesn’t matter what you think. This isn’t about you,” he said sternly.  “I just want to make sure they’re okay,” she desperately explained.   “Your thoughts don’t matter! How many times do I have to tell you this to get it through your head?” he shouted, starting to bring them attention from passersby.  “I don’t think they’re good for each other, and I don’t understand why they would start dating,” she replied, starting to raise her voice in turn.  “I know it’s just Garl you care about.”  “What?” she exhaled in disbelief.  “And you don’t like Seraï. That’s all this is.”  “No! I-”  “Then what is it in their relationship you hate so much?”  “I don’t hate it-”  “And yet its mere existence messed with you for weeks and you’ve gone so far as to spy on them!”  “Just listen to me!” Valere grabbed him by the sleeves and shook him. He stopped talking, but he was clearly still upset. “I-” She paused, catching a glimpse of them walking in the distance, Seraï wrapped around one of Garl’s arms. She felt an ache in her chest and decided to take a breath and start again. “Yes, it’s Garl I care about, but that doesn’t mean I hate Seraï.” She noticed that Zale’s expression started to soften, which gave her a bit more confidence in being honest. “I don’t really understand her, but based off what I do know, I don’t think she’s good for him,” she felt her voice start to crack. “I don’t want Garl getting hurt.”  Zale smiled, and while there was still an air of annoyance around him, it was fading fast. “Thanks,” he sighed, relieved to know what was really messing with Valere. “I know that you’re not the biggest fan of Seraï-”  “I said I don’t-”  “I know,” Zale chuckled, “just let me finish.” Valere seemed uneasy but kept quiet. “You’re not the biggest fan of her, but you don’t hate her. She gets under your skin because you don’t like a lot of what she does.” Valere started to open her mouth to protest, but Zale put his finger over it, earning him a small pout. “You hate that she keeps her identity secret from the pirates, you find it rude that she won’t eat with everyone, and you think she's tactless and callous. Need I go on?” he jokingly asked, putting down the fingers he was counting on.  “No,” Valere mumbled, staring at the ground.  “Hey.” He grabbed her arm, getting her to face him. “There’s nothing wrong with that. You don’t have to agree with how she acts.” Zale cracked a smile, “Just don’t be upset that Garl sees something you don’t.”  Valere tried to smile, but it immediately faltered. She hugged him, burying her head in his shoulder. He pulled her in and rubbed comforting circles on her back.  “I’m sorry,” she said, her breaking voice muffled in his clothes.  “It’s alright.”  The two remained in each other's arms for a while, glad to have reconciled.   “Can we eat now?”  “Seriously?” Valere shouted, pulling back from their embrace.  “What? That’s what we came here for!”          The Inn was lively with people getting their evening drinks and Wheels games in. It was almost dark out, so it was doubtful they’d be up much later.  “Hey!” a cheery Garl called out to them, the splashing from his jogging nearly drowning out his voice. “How was your guys’ day?”  “It was great,” Valere replied. “I’m assuming yours was as well?”  “Yep! Me and Seraï are planning to head back out actually.”  “You know it’s late, right?” she asked, hoping his excitement didn’t obscure reality.  “I know. We can handle ourselves, Valere,” he explained.  “I wasn’t worried about your strength,” she chuckled. “Just make sure you get enough sleep.”  “I will!” he chirped. “Oh! Before I forget, there’s soup for you two in Valere’s room.”  “We already ate, but I’ll be sure to snag some if I’m hungry later,” Zale said.  “Key’s same as usual?” Garl asked.  “As always,” he replied with a wink.  “What’re you talking about?” Valere asked.  “Don’t worry about it,” Zale assured her.  The conversation that was already winding down completely stopped as Seraï arrived.  “You good to go?” Garl asked her.  “All set,” she said, barely paying Valere and Zale any mind.  The two waved as they left, leaving the Solstice warriors to themselves. Valere wanted to challenge a few people to Wheels, but Zale was ready to call it a night.  “Good night, Zale!” she called to him before getting sucked into her first game.  “Night!” he shouted back before getting some much-needed rest.          Zale forced his eyes to open a sliver, making him aware of his dark surroundings. Even without trying to speak, he could tell his voice was horrendously hoarse. He absentmindedly reached for the flask he kept on his nightstand, only to find it empty. After lying in bed in a vain attempt to fall back asleep, he got up to get water. It was too dark for him to navigate the unusual surroundings, so he lit his finger as a nightlight. The soft glow of the flame helped his eyes wake up, though regrettably so. He froze as he stared at the other side of the room, seeing two heads sticking out of the covers.  He stifled a scream and bolted out of the room, feeling sick to his stomach. A few deeps breaths helped him to think clearer. He gently knocked on Valere and Teaks’ room, too mortified to go back to his. He waited patiently, and during that time, tried to calm himself as best as he could. A faint rustling was heard before the door creaked open.  “Hello?” a tired Teaks asked, still rubbing her eyes. “Zale?” she exclaimed, surprised, but managing to keep her voice close to a whisper.  “Can I come in?” Zale asked, impatiently twiddling his thumbs.  “Uh,” she hesitated, glancing back into the room. “Sure, but Valere is still asleep.” She fully opened the door and stepped aside for him to enter. “Is something the matter?”  “Garl and Seraï are sleeping in my room, and I don’t know what to do about it,” he explained, panic apparent in his tone.  “Can’t you just ask Seraï to go back to her room?” she suggested.  “They’re in the same bed,” he added through gritted teeth.  “Oh!” she exclaimed before quickly covering her mouth, picking up on what he actually meant. “Really?” she questioned, shocked by the news.  “Yeah. I knew they were hooking up... or dating... or both,” he awkwardly tried to explain, “but I would’ve never expected this.” His breathing had begun to slow, but it was still faster than normal. Looking around the room to distract himself, he could see the portion of soup Garl had set aside for him. A gesture that would normally make him smile felt sickening now. “Um, I don’t think Valere would mind, so you’re welcome to stay here if you’d like,” she offered.  “What’d you say about me?” a groggy Valere asked, flipping her head from facing the wall to them before slamming it back down on her pillow.  “I’m so sorry! Did I wake you?” Teaks asked.  “It’s fine,” she stated, “What do you want, Zale?” she asked, merely moving her eyes to look at him.  “Garl and Seraï are sleeping in my room and I feel violated so I’m spending the night here,” he quickly explained, the repetition only making him feel gross.  She seemed to wake up a bit more. “I doubt they’d do that,” she mumbled.  “You’re welcome to check,” he said with annoyance, “but I can’t confirm if they have clothes or not!”  Valere nearly jolted awake having fully processed things. Her face grew pale as she sat up. “You’re lying,” she muttered in disbelief. “Why would I lie about this?” he tried to shout before Teaks quickly shushed him to a normal volume.  “I-” Valere sighed. “I know you’re not, I’m just shocked and appalled that they would do that.”  “Um,” Teaks nervously started, “How long has this been going on?”  “We don’t know,” Valere replied. “At least a few weeks.”  “Why? Did you see something?” Zale asked, wanting to know if there was more they were missing.  “No, this is the first I’m hearing of it,” she answered.  Valere’s face morphed into one of determination. “No matter how long it’s been going on, this needs to stop.”  “Valere!” Zale complained. “We just went over this-”  “Not the relationship itself,” she clarified, “but they can’t be shacking up in other people’s rooms.”  “Hard agree,” Zale smiled.  “So even if it gets weird, we’re going to have a talk about this!” she cheered, louder than she should. “Tomorrow!” she added as she face-planted back into her pillow.  “Aw come on!” Zale mock complained, “You can’t give an epic speech then wait till tomorrow!”  “You said it yourself - I don’t know if they’re clothed – and I ain’t walking in on that,” she joked.  “Alright,” Zale said swiping the pillow from underneath Valere. “Thanks for letting me stay you two,” he said, exchanging looks with the two of them as he plopped onto the floor.  “Of course,” Teaks chirped, already mostly in bed.  “You owe me,” Valere said, death glaring him for the loss of her pillow.  “You have another one,” he informed her, unsure if she was joking or serious in her annoyance. “Good night!”