Awakened Economics 308

  No. This is not "why do we use weregild as a basis for large transactions" or "why does this cost more than that". This is not the lesson on how companies and individual Awakened decide what to charge. If you're for those you should be looking at the 100 and 200 level courses. They will teach you everything you need to know about running a business.

  AE 308 covers the one aspect most Awakened pretend doesn't exist. Where does the currency we use come from. Sure it is passed around between Vaults, it is spent in fractional costs on a daily basis.

  Then it is used to advance. Everyone chooses to advance eventually, they have to spend their hard earned weregild, fractional or otherwise, and meditate. Which uses up the Energy. So where do we get more?

  Divers.

  ~ * ~

  Fay wasn't able to fall asleep. She should have been able to, she was tired, she was happy, she was nestled against Briana's side. She had every reason to drift off to sleep and rest.

  Her thoughts wouldn't let her, they wouldn't stop going over what Anya had said when explaining their late return. She'd given them an answer, given them the answer anyone would expect to hear. It was true, it was accurate, it was misleading.

  Bands remaining active while sleeping was not unheard of with strong romantic bonds. High levels of synchronization was the most common benefit of combat bonds, which did frequently manifest during intense situations. Romantic bonds and the feelings within them could qualify as intense. Having both bonds had been reported to lead to continued synchronization simply due to the growth of the relationship.

  However the reports of such fell into one of two categories. Long-term bonds that had grown to that point over decades if not centuries, and situations that had pushed the pair past their limits and to the utmost brink of their capabilities, to the point where they were relying on not just one another but the bond itself.

  They were too young for the former and they hadn't mentioned going an additional level deeper to push themselves. They hadn't said anything that would hint that they had pushed beyond their usual levels of effort, that they'd done anything they considered unusual. They weren't injured, they hadn't come across a threat they couldn't handle, so what had pushed them to that point.

  She trusted them, she knew they would be careful, she knew they wouldn't go after a challenge they couldn't handle, at least not on purpose. She knew they were safe, that they'd manage, but still she worried. Something had happened yesterday, something had driven them past their limits.

  She'd have to ask them, have to talk to them about what had happened. They'd brought it up, they knew about the various types of bonds, she could share what she knew without hesitation. She didn't have to worry on her own.

  She started to shift, her decision made. She would talk to them. She felt Briana react to her movement and smiled. She had made up her mind, worrying wouldn't help at this point. If they'd pushed that hard they'd best be sleeping, they wouldn't want her to wake them up in the middle of the night.

  Plus Briana might wake up and wonder where she'd gone, or be woken up by her getting up. That wouldn't do, not at all. She took a deep breath and finally closed her eyes as she exhaled. There was time tomorrow and she was exactly where she was meant to be.

  ~ * ~

  Briana and Fay were finishing setting the table for breakfast by the time Seb made it downstairs. Anya was right behind him, he could feel her intentionally pushing herself to not walk in step with him out of sheer stubbornness as they entered the kitchen.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Stop that, he sent.

  What?

  You know what you're doing.

  He felt how amused she was by his reaction, he knew she could feel the shared discomfort her actions were causing. It was good to know they could act independently and not be fully caught in the effect of the bond, but she didn't have to keep going.

  "Good morning," he said.

  "Coffee's ready to pour," Briana answered.

  "You're going to let us pour our own this morning?" Anya asked.

  "She'll let Seb pour," Fay answered with a smile.

  "I apologize for being late," Alex said as he came up from the Holding. "I didn't realize everyone would be up so early."

  "We just came down," Seb said. "Coffee?"

  "Please. I mean- Thank you my Lord."

  "Seb."

  "My Lord?"

  "If formality is needed, Lord or Partner or whichever other term applies. Breakfast? Situations where there isn't anyone who needs to be impressed? Seb."

  "Yes my L…," Alex trailed off as Anya turned towards him and Seb's eyes locked onto him. "Seb."

  "He's a little stubborn about that. Doesn't care about formality unless it's absolutely necessary," Anya said. "Shallows life on Earth doesn't use the terms to the same extent."

  Some parts do. There's plenty of- Seb began.

  Seb…

  "Does my Lady feel the same?"

  "Anya is fine. I won't correct you though."

  "How do you take your coffee?" Seb asked.

  "Cream and sugar," Alex said.

  "Briana?"

  "Next to the beans, exactly where it's always been," she said.

  Seb placed the mug on the counter then set the cream and sugar next to it. None of them typically added sugar so he hadn't been sure where it was. They had some from when Anya's family had visited, just in case anyone used it.

  "It isn't always if we only bought it a month or two ago," he said.

  "It is when you see it every morning since," she answered.

  Seb shook his head and turned to the stove. Everything was ready for breakfast, it was just a matter of actually cooking up the eggs and bacon. Fay got to it sometimes but she must have been distracted.

  "Alex, how has it been working with Fay now that you're a retainer?"

  "Interesting. It isn't quite what I expected, a lot more time spent looking over plans and coordinating with the Engineers. And of course confirming with Deep Earth officials that we are allowed to move forward. They don't have many laws about what can or cannot be done on Holding land, otherwise that would be a constant discussion."

  "Oh?" Anya asked. He didn't need to see her face to know she was grinning and ready to tease Fay. "What are you planning Fay?"

  Fay's silence was enough for Seb to turn away from the stove. She was staring at the table, shifting her head back and forth so her hair turned into a full curtain.

  "Fay?" Briana said. "What's-"

  "We needed a license for the cafe," Fay mumbled. "It. You."

  "Cafe?"

  "I wanted to surprise you," Fay said as she straightened, her face beet red. "You've complained about how small your shop is, about how there's not enough room, how the rent keeps going up. I asked Yshe to draw up plans for a full cafe with both a dedicated kitchen and somewhere to roast beans."

  "You..?" Briana began.

  Seb turned back to the stove and kept cooking. Anya was completely focused on the moment, he couldn't see through her eyes but her emotions told him everything he needed to know about the situation.

  "You'd have to be Affiliated," Fay explained. "Owners and Managers of businesses on Holding Territory must be Affiliated with the Holding."

  "If we set up housing the residents will need to be Affiliated as well," she continued, her words clearly meant for Anya this time. "Or at least one member does and they have to be listed as the owner or lease holder."

  "When were you going to tell me?" Briana said.

  "Today? Tomorrow? It was a surprise, I just wanted to make sure they knew about it first and they've been gone."

  "You!"

  "Is- Are you upset?" Fay asked.

  "Am I upset?" Briana answered. "Am I upset that my girlfriend wanted to surprise me with a full sized cafe? Am I upset that she worked out all the logistics and plans to make it more than a gesture? Am I upset that I love that she listens when I talk about how annoying it is to work in a tiny corner store that barely has room to bake pastries? That my coworkers are as unhappy as I am with the place?"

  "Bri- I-"

  "Am I upset that she still doesn't always get my hints?"

  "Oh-"

  "I'm not upset silly. Yes, I'll Affiliate myself with Holding Syl if they'll have me. Yes, I'll look over your plans and tell you everything you got wrong about how to lay out a cafe. Yes, I'll even let my friends know that you're planning to set up housing, which I'm assuming will be more affordable than our current rent."

  "Yes? I mean," Fay began.

  "Affiliated housing is usually more affordable," Alex said. "It is meant to promote the Holding, not simply turn a profit. Although the construction costs will mean-"

  "Drink your coffee," Anya said gently.

  "Yes my lady, I mean Anya."

  "So you're not upset?"

  "Fay!" Briana said before sweeping her into her arms and kissing her soundly enough that Seb started to blush at Anya's reaction to whatever she was seeing. "I couldn't be less upset with you."

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