The night had come with certain difficulties, most notably the lack of visibility and energy but instead of spending it on the crummy alley streets like before, they passed the night inside a small restaurant.
The owner had been kind enough to let them stay, even going so far as to cook for them that late.
Of course, they had Stephen to thank for that.
Now, morning had arrived. In the extremely early hours, Stephen snored softly as he lay on the ground, covered by a soft blanket he'd been given.
Tello, on the other hand, was on the cold floor. No blanket, no pillow. He sat up and stared blankly to the side. Then, stretching his arms, he reached for the curtains and pulled them apart.
"I'm not up yet," Stephen muttered, one hand covering his eyes.
"People who are asleep usually don't speak in fully coherent sentences," Tello replied, as morning light spilled into the room. He walked over and stood above him. "Wake up. We need to strategize for the day."
Stephen cracked one eye open, glancing out the window. The sun was nowhere near up yet, with only a slither of morning creeping in. "It's too early..."
"We run the risk of getting found by the guards if we stay any longer," Tello said, nudging Stephen's shin with his foot. "So unless prison sounds better than waking up at six in the morning, you better..."
He kicked him again.
"Wake up!"
"Fine... fine!" Stephen groaned, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. Then he stood and walked toward the restaurant counter, slumping into one of the two seats. Tello sat beside him, spreading his bag open on the counter.
"So I was making plans while you and the store owner were flirting last night," Tello said, spreading out several drawings. "These are rough concepts, okay... but what do you think about this one?" He pointed to a sketch.
"It looks... great," Stephen said, his eyes fluttering half shut. "Ten out of... three stars..."
"I have so many ideas I can't wait to test out." Tello held his hands up in front of him as if picturing it. "I could make an infinity room, or maybe go for the ascending tower."
"Sounds... great."
"Or, if we slightly increase the budget now that we've got more to spend. We could make a kind of cathedral."
"A cathedral... brothel?"
"I know it sounds outlandish," Tello said, more to himself than to anyone else, "but it could work. This is the kind of idea that changes the game. I mean, where else are you going to find a cathedral brothel?"
"Is that right..." Stephen yawned, his head falling onto the counter. "But you seem to be forgetting something."
"What?"
"The lot."
"Oh crap, the building site." Tello began rolling up his plans and stuffing them back into his satchel. "We should get going."
"Right now?" Stephen's words came muffled from the table.
"The royal guards begin city patrol in an hour or two—"
Stephen waved him off. "I get it, I get it." He lifted his head with another yawn. "Let's go."
"Alright," Tello said, rotating off the counter chair, and as he made his way toward the door.
A voice called from behind.
"Y'all are leaving so soon?" a woman asked, dressed in a nightgown. "I thought you'd at least stay for breakfast."
"That was the plan," Stephen muttered, pouting.
"Unfortunately, we can't stay any longer. We're... on a tight schedule," Tello said, turning to go. "Now if you don't mind, we'll be heading—"
"Will I ever see you again, Stephen?" the woman said, already next to the half asleep boy, gently taking his hands in hers. "Please, reassure me."
Stephen had flirted with her a lot last night, mostly to convince her to let two strangers sleep in her restaurant but it seemed to have become something more for her.
"Freya," Stephen said, forcing his eyes open. "I'm sorry... but I doubt I'll be able to see you again."
"No..." she whispered.
Stephen let go of her hands and brushed the dark hair from her eyes, tucking it behind her ears. "But maybe... maybe one day fate will be kind enough to let us meet again. And I can't wait for that day to come."
She looked up at him, sparkles in her eyes.
Stephen began walking toward the door, where Tello stood holding it open.
"Until then, my lady," he said with a bow. "Until we meet again—"
"Do you want some pancakes?" she interrupted, lifting a small plate.
Stephen paused, glancing at Tello, who sighed. Then he looked back at her.
"I would love some pancakes," Stephen said, walking back inside and accepting the plate.
"Make sure you enjoy them," she said, hands nervously twirling. "I made them just for you... I put all my heart and love into them."
Stephen gave a polite nod, then turned to go.
"Thanks for everything."
The door closed behind them as they stepped into the cool morning. The streets empty.
"Are you really going to eat that?" Tello asked, eyeing the plate Stephen held under his arm.
"I'm not sharing. You're the one who didn't want to wait for breakfast."
"I mean she could've drugged it," Tello said, "To make you fall in love with her or something."
"She wouldn't do that," Stephen replied. "...I hope."
They turned the corner past the restaurant and ahead, tied to a pipe and surrounded by loose hay and vegetables, was Stephen's black stallion.
The horse neighed upon seeing him, nearly tearing free of her leash.
"You ate all your food," Stephen said, stroking her mane. "Such a good girl."
She neighed again.
"That horse really likes you," Tello noted, watching Stephen unhook her and begin walking.
"Yeah, I don't know why," Stephen replied. "Maybe her previous owners were horrible to her."
Darla nodded.
"See?" Stephen said.
"There's no shot she understands what we're saying," Tello muttered, stepping out of the alley. "Anyway, we should head to the plot."
"Yeah, about that..." Stephen said as he tightened the saddle straps. "What's the actual plan?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean we're going there to buy it, right? With our own money. Who knows how much it'll cost?"
"It was a big plot..." Tello muttered, walking beside Darla as Stephen climbed up. "I didn't even think about that yesterday. Crap."
"Could be cheap," Stephen said. "Never know."
"Yeah... maybe you could convince the owner to give it to us for less. You know, the usual."
"First of all, that's not how it works," Stephen explained. "If they're firm on the price, I can't just charm my way around that. It's not magic."
"Maybe I shouldn't worry about it," Tello sighed, rubbing his temples. "Maybe it'll be cheap. Hopefully under thirty thousand."
"Hopefully."
That was the last word spoken as they made their way toward Seventeenth Avenue. The early morning streets felt like a ghost town. Only a few signs of life were visible and it was between shopkeepers unlocking their doors, and night workers finally closing up.
The sun hadn't risen yet, but it was much warmer than earlier. It was most likely past seven now.
Tello suddenly slowed to a stop. Stephen, a few steps ahead on Darla, turned back.
"Something wrong?"
"Nah..." Tello shook his head and started walking again. "Just... can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"How do you talk to women so easily?" he asked, covering his face with both hands. "Every time I try, it feels like I'm being stabbed by a hundred needles."
Stephen put a hand to his chin, one hand still on Darla's saddle. "There's no trick to it. I just pretend I know what I'm doing and pray they don't call my bluff."
Then he turned back to him. "What, is there someone you're interested in?"
"No, no." Tello quickly denied the notion, still walking. "It's just... I'm thinking about having kids."
Stephen's mouth dropped open. "Why the hell would you want to do that to yourself?"
"It's not for me. It's for my mom," Tello replied quickly. "I'm scared she'll go without ever seeing her grandkids."
"Your mom's not even that old. She's got time—"
"Neither was my dad," Tello cut in.
The air stilled for a moment. Then, Stephen looked away, and grinned. "Well, guess we better start scouting a wife for one Tello Omara."
He took in a deep breath.
"What are you doing?" Tello muttered, glancing around.
"Ladies of the city!" Stephen called out dramatically. "Come get your tall, white haired boyfriend while stocks last! He's gentle, soft spoken and emotionally available! I mean, what more could you ask for?"
"Shut up!" Tello hissed, and Stephen burst into laughter. "We'll get caught!"
After a few more moments of walking, talking and the occasional sniffing and snorting from Darla. They arrived at the plot near the Love Supreme, though immediately they got close enough to the establishment they began to follow back alleys.
The two of them stood at the edge, staring down at the plot.
It was nearly double the size of the Love Supreme's, with enough space not only for a building, but also a courtyard, a small diner, and maybe even a mini football field if someone wanted to get creative.
"This is so going to be higher than thirty thousand," Stephen muttered, gripping Darla's lead.
"Most definitely," Tello sighed, stepping further in. The lot was tucked behind a row of houses, a strange emptiness in a fully furnished part of the city. "And there's no way the owner hasn't already been approached. He's probably turned down a dozen offers by now."
"Yeah," Stephen said, following behind.
"Think we should find somewhere else?" Tello asked. "I mean, does the location really matter that much? And the nobles already know we plan to build it next to the Love Supreme as well."
"That's true."
"Yeah. Maybe it's time to reconsider."
"If we do, we lose the advantage," Stephen said. "The only reason this thing makes money is competition. We're here to steal the Love Supreme's customers. Take that away, and we're just another brothel."
"But your ideas are undeniably fresh," Tello said. "Wouldn't that be enough to make us money either way?"
"In the long run, sure," Stephen replied. "But we don't have that kind of time anymore, not after we sold it to Traver."
"Oh yeah..." Tello scratched his head. "This is such a dilemma. Such an annoying fu—"
"What are you doing on my land!?" a voice shouted suddenly.
Tello yelped and jolted forward, slamming straight into Darla's hind legs.
The horse glanced back at him and shook its head.
"You alright?" Stephen asked.
"I'm not scared!" Tello said, coughing and straightening up. "Just... startled, that's all."
Stephen looked around, following the sound of the voice. After a moment, he spotted a man approaching, his hands clasped behind his back, a deep slash running from his cheek down to his neck, his eyes locked on them.
"What are you doing on my land?" the man asked again. "If you're here to buy it, forget it. It's not for sale."
"Shot down before we could even ask," Tello muttered, sighing. He looked around the empty space again. "But why not? With how much commerce flows through here, people would pay double just to get this plot."
"That's none of your business," the man replied, turning to leave.
"You must be Rumm, right? How about fifteen thousand?" Stephen called after him.
Rumm stopped, turning back slowly, eyes narrowing at Stephen.
"...Alright, thirty thousand," Stephen added. "But that's the best I can do."
"This isn't about the money," Rumm said flatly, and turned again. "Now leave my property. Immediately."
"Well, I tried," Stephen muttered, raising his hands in surrender. "When someone's got their heart set on something, there's no convincing them otherwise."
"There must be a reason he's attached to this place," Tello said, still watching the man limp away. "But I mean... he's so old. Shouldn't his kids or grandkids be looking after the property by now?"
"I don't have any grandkids," Rumm suddenly said, now somehow seated on Darla. His hands cupped around his eyes. "My beautiful daughter says she doesn't want to get married."
Tello nearly shrieked, and Stephen stepped back. Both of them stared at the man in shock. Even Darla hadn't noticed she'd been mounted.
"That's not good..." Tello said, calming himself. "At this rate, you might pass before you even see her settle down."
"That's what I keep saying!" Rumm threw up his hands. "But she just brushes me off. Something about not having met the right type of man yet."
"Well, what's her type?" Stephen asked, still wondering when Darla would notice her passenger.
Rumm leaned forward, squinting thoughtfully. "A young man with strong facial features... taller than her, but not so tall he looks like a tower... full head of..."
His gaze narrowed, locking onto Tello.
"...Whitened hair."
"You said blonde hair?" Tello said quickly, redirecting Rumm's attention toward Stephen.
"He said white hair," Stephen muttered.
Rumm's eyes glimmered like polished glass. "You are exactly my daughter's type."
"I don't know about all that," Tello mumbled, starting to back away. "Maybe that's just something she used to like—"
"If you marry my daughter," Rumm interrupted, "I'll give you anything you want."
He gestured around. "You want this plot? It's yours. Free of charge."
"I'm sorry, I can't—" Tello started, but Stephen nudged him hard.
"We'd be getting the land for free," Stephen hissed. "And this is kinda what you wanted, right?"
"Not like this!" Tello whispered back. "Not with a random girl I've never even seen!"
"So you're in?" Rumm clapped his hands and leapt down from Darla. "I can't wait to tell Gila! She's going to be so happy!!"
"Wait, I'm not—" Tello reached out, but Rumm had already dashed off. "—ready..."
"Don't worry about it." Stephen folded his arms, "I mean, we could just fake the marriage. I doubt she'll be any more into it than you are."
"Really?" Tello said.
"Yeah," Stephen replied. "So... how many kids do you want?"
"What?!" Tello yelled.
Stephen broke into laughter and kept walking. "I'm just kidding."
Tello exhaled, dragging his feet behind him. "This is definitely going to be a long couple of months."
Darla suddenly reared up and twisted in place, flailing wildly to see her back. Then stilled, when she saw nothing was there.
"So slow," Stephen muttered.