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It’s officially been 10 years since the events of the Witherstorm, 9 since the Portal Hall, and 5 since the whole ordeal with the Admin. Of course there have been other equally important adventures but if you were to ask an average Beacontowner what their favourite Order of the Stone adventure was, it’s mostly among those three – which are also coincidentally, Lukas’ top bestsellers.
Today is the Order’s Founding Day- well, was, because it’s nighttime and the Order is currently having their own private party in their private Hall. Why not just meet during the day? Great question. Problem is, everyone in the Order is a busy person. Jesse and Petra have been off adventuring together and only just returned to Beacontown to set up Founding Day decorations with Radar, Lukas has been writing (as always) and has to travel half a day by horse to get into town, Axel and Olivia have their own preparations for Boom Town and Redstonia respectively, and who knows where Ivor and Harper are off to nowadays.
So, yeah, nighttime is go-time for the Order to lounge around the hall and share their adventures with one another. Catch up and share a few bottles of wine and cake (or cookies, everyone loves cookies).
Axel’s booming laughter echoed off the walls of the hall, his wine sloshing back and forth in his cup as he leant back into his armchair. “That’s really awesome Jesse. Wardens…Labyrinths…Abandoned Castles? Man…you and Petra’s stories make me kind of miss going on those cool adventures we used to go on as a team”
Jesse smiled softly, reminiscing over their past adventures. Her hands cupping her glass in her palms and her fingers tracing the rim of the vessel, “Yeah, well…if it wasn’t for Petra I don’t think I’d even do half the things we did together. I’d still be in Beacontown running the place behind my desk.” Petra’s brown eyes creased fondly, she extended her arm to nudge her shoulder.
“Told ya it was all worth it.” The redhead took a sip from her drink, “I’m the best, aren’t I?”
Jesse snorted and rolled her green eyes, her hand sliding down to pat Petra’s knee and eventually letting it rest there. “You wanted me there with you, ya’ big softie.” The gesture wasn’t lost to Lukas, who raised an eyebrow at the close proximity between his two closest friends. Though, he decided it was wise not to say anything that would ruin the mood.
Surprisingly Olivia piped up, pulling her goggles off her head of curls. “I still can’t believe it’s been 10 years since it all went down…” she raised her glass, the deep crimson liquid catching in the warm glow of the fireplace, “I’m proud of us guys, I wouldn’t want to be friends with anyone else. You’re all some of the most intelligent, strongest, and kindest people I know, and…I…I miss you guys…” Jesse was momentarily stunned by the way Olivia’s voice trembled, her eyes shining with tears, before raising her glass in solidarity.
Axel sniffled, wiping away at his face with his giant hands, his nose a bright pink “Aw man…I promised not to cry but…” a hiccup, “promise broken.”
“And we miss you.” Jesse pushed herself onto her feet and Petra chuckled, her gaze trailing up at the movement and her free hand leaning back against the carpet.
“Here it comes, another one of Jesse’s speeches.”
Lukas smirked into his glass, “Oh yeah.”
“Olivia’s right,” Jesse started, moving to stand in front of the fireplace as she addressed her closest friends, her comrades in arms, and the most amazing people in the world, “10 years is a long time. It’s been filled with the highs of adventure- of saving the world, or worlds,” Petra and Lukas especially laughed quietly at that, no matter what world they landed in 9 years ago it really seemed that no matter where they went they’d ended up changing things for the better regardless of how exhausted they were. “And yes, there have been times of prolonged separation where we’ve been swamped with Town duties and moving on to a new chapter in our lives. Where…we haven’t always been able to see eye to eye.” Her eyes landed between Oliva and Axel, from decided between what to build for Endercon or how to reunite the Order, then they drifted to Lukas, how they started off as rivals on different teams and how they struggled for the position of the new ‘leader’, and finally to Petra. Her closest friend. 5 years ago her and Petra had found themselves drifting apart, Jesse was becoming comfortable in Beacontown and rebuilding society whereas Petra found it too small for her, it wasn’t enough to itch that adventurer’s spirit within her. And so she made an executive decision to leave. Jesse followed.
Jesse raised her glass higher, her breath wavered a fraction as her heart clenched at the sight of the people she cared about most. “But no matter what, we always look out for one another. We always see things through. Everything that has happened, I couldn’t have done without my friends. The people who keep me grounded and built me into the person I am today. Regardless if it takes a year or 10 years, we’ll always be friends. Forever. And to that, I raise my glass.”
The rest of the Order followed suit. The wine kept flowing, tears were shed, Lukas’ next book was read. Soon, Olivia was hooking up a new instrument she had invented dubbed the ‘karaoke machine’, when pressed about what karaoke meant she shrugged her shoulders and handed a microphone to Jesse before blasting the instrumental to some well known songs in Beacontown.
The night was young and for a moment they could forget about their responsibilities as Heroes in Residence. However, like all good things, the party eventually came to an end. Tears were shed as Olivia and Axel parted towards the portals for Redstonia and Boom Town respectively. Jesse waved to them enthusiastically, Petra called out to them as they departed that ‘there’s no way they’re skipping out on next year’s party’, and Lukas let out a breathy laugh sitting down on the stone steps of the Order Hall with a heavy sigh.
Jesse and Petra shared a tender smile, the redhead’s caught between her teeth as she slid her warm calloused hand into Jesse’s. The other woman’s lips curved upwards further, “You’re quite touchy tonight…”
Petra huffed playfully, “Says you.”
Jesse hummed, cheeks flushed as she caressed her thumb against the inner edge of Petra’s index finger before a loud cough brought them out of their daze.
“Okay, guys, what is actually going on between you two?”
Right. Lukas. Almost forgot he was here.
“Oh, uh, heyyy Lukas.” Petra scratched the back of her neck, “You…staying the night?”
“Well,” he looked between the two women with a raised eyebrow, “if you want a moment of privacy I can ride out of Beacontown in the middle of the night and risk fighting off a horde of mobs. No biggy.”
“What?” Jesse exclaimed and blew air, smacking the air down with her hand “Don’t be silly Lukas, of course you can stay. We’re all Order of the Stone here.”
“You sure?” Petra smirked.
And Jesse nudged her arm, face pink, “Petra…don’t be an asshole.”
The redhead held her hands up in mock defeat, “Your call, ‘Leader.’”
“Okay,” Lukas started, pinching the bridge of his nose, “I am definitely out of the loop here. Am I missing something?”
“Missing what?” Petra raised, and Jesse nodded, concerned.
“Is something bothering you Lukas? You can be straight with us, you know?”
“It’s just- you guys…” he gestured vaguely between the two women, unsure how to approach this with any tact, “Are you two…dating?”
Jesse and Petra shared a look.
“Yes.” Petra answered.
“For four years now, actually.” Jesse added casually.
“Four years???” Lukas repeated, baffled. How had he not seen it sooner? The intimate touches, the hand holding, the leaning into one another, the innuendos. Had he not seen any signs for four whole years. Four founding day celebrations and not one revelation. And he thought himself the astute observer, apparently not when it came to the relationships of his closest friends. “You guys didn’t say anything?”
“Oh. Did we…not?” Petra glanced over to Jesse and for a moment the latter pondered, a finger rested against her chin.
“I guess not, huh…” Jesse blinked and laughed it off, patting Lukas’s shoulder, “Well, now you know! We’re all on the same page now. It seems that between all the adventuring and celebrations that we simply just,” she shrugged, “forgot.”
“Right…well uh, congrats for you two. You both seem really happy together.” Lukas gave a tight smile and pushed himself up to his feet.
Jesse’s eyes softened, “Thanks Lukas, knew you’d understand.” A gust of wind swooped by, blowing her dark hair into her face and sending a shiver up her spine.
Petra turned towards her, taking off her jacket to drape over the other woman’s shoulders. “Hey it’s getting kind of cold, we should head inside.”
Sweeping the stray strands of her hair from her face, Jesse nodded and Lukas pulled his classic leather jacket closer to his body.
The group walked back inside the hall, welcomed by a warm hug from the burning hearth. Jesse hummed, pleased, “Much better…” and hobbled over to thaw her frozen hands over the fire.
“You can say that again.” Petra stretched her hands over her head, “Oh yeah, that’s nice.”
Lukas dipped himself into the lounge, sinking into a corner spot and sliding the goggles off his head with a sigh. He looked up, his eyes wandered over to Jesse and the way she shuffled over to the alcohol cabinet, her lips curved upwards in an cheeky smile.
“Woah ho ho, again?” Petra grinned, walking over to lean against the cabinet, watching Jesse pour a clear liquor into three shot glasses. The redhead twisted towards the blond, “Want one Lukas?”
He shouldn’t. He really shouldn’t. It’s a long ride to his homestead and being hungover on a horse is a miserable experience. But with the way Jesse was giggling and how Petra was looking at him with great expectations, he couldn’t help but give in. “Alright, alright. Just one though.”
“‘Just one,’ he says.” Petra eagerly picked up her shot glass, watching curiously as Lukas strided over.
“I’m serious,” he accepted his glass from the shorter woman. “thanks Jesse.”
“No problem.” Jesse winked, and let out a content ‘okay’ and a hum as she raised her shot glass. “To the Order!”
“To the Order!” Petra mirrored.
“To the Order.” Lukas bowed his head reverently, as all three members downed their glasses.
Jesse let out a high whoop before filling her glass again, Petra squeezed her eyes tightly - reaching for a lime in the ice bowl to chase with, while Lukas suppressed a cough as he swallowed, his throat tight.
“What was in that…?” Lukas asked, voice coarse.
“Oh, Nell gave that to me today at the celebrations. Said it was some kind of hard liquor she swiped from Otto’s office back in the Old Builder’s world. No idea what it actually contains though.” Jesse chuckled, tucking a dark hair strand behind her ear as she masterfully downed another shot.
“Of course…” Lukas observed Jesse helplessly.
“You might want to slow down there Jess,” Petra finally recovered, tossing the limeskin into the bin before lifting the offending bottle from Jesse’s palms.
Jesse huffed, “Aw man.”
Lukas let out a soft laugh, “Well that didn’t last long.”
“Come on guys, it’s not that bad.” Jesse pleaded and Petra sent her a look, “Really! Besides, Nell would be disappointed if we didn’t appreciate her gift so…” she leaned over, making grabby hands at the bottle held over Petra’s head.
“Since when did you care so much about what Nell thinks?” Petra asked, amused.
“You know what I mean, Petra, she’s our friend.” Jesse, now on her tippy toes, let out an annoyed sigh. She then turned to Lukas who was watching from the sidelines and in the process of pouring himself a cup of water, “Help a girl out here Lukas.”
“You do know that Petra is taller than both of us, right?” He took a sip from his cup.
“Not if I piggyback you, then she doesn’t stand a chance.”
Petra rolled her eyes at that, shifting her weight to one foot while planting her free hand onto her hip. “How about…you give me a good reason why I should let you have this bottle – and it better not be ‘I want to get blackout drunk.’”
“I- Petra…” Jesse's face, already flushed with the soft haze of tipsiness, deepened with a warm pink bleeding into her cheeks as embarrassment set in. She then sent a pleading look towards Lukas, hoping for backup, “Lukas…”
He held his hands up in surrender, “Don’t look at me.”
“Wow, big help you are…”
“Jesse, don’t be mean.” Petra tutted, though there was a flicker of amusement tugging at her lips.
Jesse let out a sigh, her shoulders sagging.
“Fine…” Jesse leant her back against the alcohol cabinet, her fingers curled against the edge and tapped absentmindedly as her gaze drifted from the floor to her girlfriend. The way Petra’s profile was lit up by the warm glow of the hearth, how the loose strands of her fiery red hair caught the light like flickering embers, her trademark bandana – frayed at the edges and worn – wrapped around her wrist. Petra was always so steady nowadays. Grounded. She really has changed for the better these past 5 years – finding her ‘thing’ with Jesse made her into a stronger person. It also meant that Petra knew when Jesse was acting odd or out of character.
It was…infuriatingly hard to argue when she was like this.
“I don’t want to get blackout drunk, not really,” Jesse swallowed, and Petra didn’t interrupt, “…I guess I didn’t want the night to end.” she finally admitted quietly, her head tilting towards the floor, “I mean, we only get one day a year, one, to hang out together. All of us. A-and it’s not even a whole day it’s like…what, six hours after Founding day celebrations?” she huffed out a breath that almost turned into a laugh, “That doesn’t feel like enough time- it’s not enough time.” Jesse’s voice wavered, and her fingers gripped the cabinet tightly.
“I’m always…” she shook her head, searching for the right words, “I’m always something, you know?” She always had to be the strong one. “The leader, the hero in residence, the one with the plan–” her voice softened, her gaze flickering up to Petra, “Even with you. Even when it’s just us.”
But it felt like…in the 10 years of being the saviour of the entire world, she never got to be Jesse. Normal Jesse. Jesse with her pet pig in that tiny treehouse playing heroes with her friends. Jesse, who didn’t wake up to nightmares of the Witherstorm, of Petra dying of wither sickness, of the Admin reappearing in front of her to take her identity, of…of Rueben, when he fell in that final battle.
“I just…after everything…I….” she sucked in a shaky breath, “I want to feel normal again.”
Petra’s smirk faltered, the teasing completely dissipated, and Lukas’ eyes softened in understanding. What they went through together had changed them, and there was a silent agreement that not all of it was for the better. 5 years is a long time, but not enough to erase that damage already done.
Petra’s hand lowered, setting the bottle onto the cabinet, before taking a step forward to pull Jesse into a gentle hug. The shorter woman buried her forehead into the nook of her girlfriend’s shoulder, letting her arms wrap around her back. Firm. Steady.
“I…Jesse…” she started softly, her words caught in her throat. She pulled back slightly, just enough to see Jesse’s tear stricken face. Guilt flashed across her face and her chest tightened, “I should’ve seen it.” Her thumb brushed gently along Jesse’s cheek, wiping a tear from her face, “You always see it in me. 5 years ago, you didn’t let me push things down, didn’t let me lie about it to you or to myself. And I just…I missed it. I’m sorry.”
Jesse shook her head, fingers clutched tightly to Petra’s shirt, “You don’t need to apologise, it’s not your fault-”
“But I should’ve noticed.” Petra insisted, her voice trembling, “You’re my best friend. My adventuring partner. My girlfriend.” She held back a sniffle, “And all those years you were carrying this by yourself…Oh Jesse…” she then pulled Jesse back in for a tighter hug, holding her as if to make up for all the times she hadn’t noticed, “You don’t have to be the ‘hero’ with me.” she murmured into her hair, “You never did. You’ve always been ‘Jesse’ to me, and that’s the only version I need.”
Jesse dug her fingers into Petra’s back in response, holding her equally as tight.
Lukas stepped in a little closer, his voice was careful and quiet so as to not disturb the moment between his two closest friends. “Jesse, what you’re describing…” he began, fidgeting with his fingers as he gathered his words, before meeting her eyes, “sounds a lot like burnout.”
As his friends gently pried themselves off each other, he gave a small self-conscious smile, “I get it. When I write sometimes I hit a wall and…suddenly everything that used to make sense, that used to come so easily just…doesn’t.” he shrugged, “And…the more I try to force it, the worse I feel.
“It doesn’t mean I’ve lost the ability to write. All it means is that I need to step back, and that’s okay. Rest. Take some time off.” He paused and continued gently, “You’ve been a ‘hero’ for so long, we all have, but maybe it’s okay to put the sword down sometimes.”
Petra nodded in agreement, “Yeah…I mean, I like adventuring but I love you more Jesse. If you need time to rest, then we do it together.”
Jesse frowned, “I don’t want you to put your life on hold for me-”
“You’re part of my life, Jesse.” Petra answered, “Where you go, I go. That was the deal, remember?”
Jesse’s chest tightened, her lips quivered, hesitant, yet touched by the gesture. Her hand found Petra’s as she slid her fingers in between hers. Warm. Grounding. Steady. “Thank you.” she breathed out and sniffled, “Petra. Lukas.” she then inhaled deeply, her eyes briefly shut as she centred herself, “I want to still adventure with you, Petra. I love it too, but…I really needed this tonight, guys, because maybe one day I’ll need that rest and…I’ll remember this night. Thank you for reminding me of what great friends I have.”
There’s a quiet beat between them, then Lukas glanced back at the bottle sitting on the cabinet.
“That’s what friends are for,” he spoke up, reaching for the bottle before pouring out three glasses, “whatever we’re going through, we share it.”
“Together.” Petra nodded, “and I thought you were the sensible one.” she nudged Jesse as she looked over Lukas.
He chuckled with a shrug, “After all of that? I think we deserve this.”
Petra hummed, picking up her glass and offering Jesse hers, her lips tugged upwards, “Just one rule, we’re not drinking to forget tonight.”
Jesse let out a quiet laugh, her finger brushed against Petra’s, “No, I guess not.” she raised her glass and looked between them – really looked between them to commit this moment to memory – the love in Petra’s eyes, the kindness in Lukas’...she raised her glass a little higher, “To us.”