A World of Dust and Souls

The entire other team blinks and looks to Sterling. Vance pulls out a notebook and pen and goes straight up to him.

"Details now!"

Sterling noticed his face turning red. "Oh believe me, you all are just as shcked as I was."

"Not many details in that statement, Sterling..."

"Ok fine, I'm... marrying the princess of Mistral. "

"Ammf Om fill bee guh bwodesaid." Nisha said while noming on a dumpling in her mouth.

Vance drops his notepad, Azula spits out her drink, Thomas' jaw drops while Elise just blinks.

"... so," Vance drawls with a sly smile on his face, "How did you slide into those royal DM's?"

Thomas glances at Nisha and blinks.

"I'm sorry what?"

"I can thank my family for that, they set it up in advance."

Nisha noms some more and swallows the dumpling as she spoke clearly, "And I get to be the bridesmaid."

Vance's grin falters for a second, but that's all it was; a second.

"Well have fun, I hear Mistral politics involve a lot of ass kissing, backstabbing and my personal favourite, assassinations!"

"I don't think you're supposed to admit something like that," Azula comments.

Vance shrugs.

"Something something all hunters have a screw lose something something samantics."

Thomas ignoring the conversation raises a hand to Nisha, "Isn't it the bride to be's job to chose that? I don't think you can just decide to be a bridesmaid."

"Remember who you're talking to, Thomas," Sienna said.

Thomas blinks, or at least he probably does behind his headband.

"I'm talking to Nisha, what's the problem?"

"Oh, nothing. Carry on." Can't say she didn't try to bail him out of that one.

"Well for one thing, the brides to be and her soon to be hubby are good friends of mine, so I have no doubt I would be her bridesmaid. Ain't that right, Sterling? You'll help me be the bridesmaid?" She asked with puppy eyes.

"We'll... see about that."

Vance looks between the teammates before slowly going over to Thomas and gently dragging him back.

"Vance, what are you-?"

"Shh, just let this happen," Vance whispers, putting Azula between Thomas and Nisha. The girl gives him the stink eye, only to shift in her seat.

"So... no homework for you guys?" she offers weakly.

"for the next few days yes."

"In that case, I might be able to help," Thomas says, "My Mother's visiting the residence outpost at the edge of Vale. The Headmaster has given us a day off to visit, you guys are welcome to join."

"It's basically a private resort." Azula adds.

"I has nice beds," Elise says, "I was promised nice beds."

"And before you ask, I already texted Sterling's parents and they're extatic to let you go." He stops, "Well, your mom is, your dad hasn't responded yes or no. All he's said is how did you get this number."

"... how did you get their numbers?" Tyson asks.

"... phone book."

"I didn't know Mistralian nobles had their numbers in those."

"They don't," Vance says.

His entire team gives him a look while Tyson raises a finger and opens his mouth, "How?"

"I got it from Sterling."

"... you mean his scroll?"

"... maybe."

"How did you get into my scroll?"

"..."

Vance said nothing and simply whistled.

three swords appear hovering around Vance's head and neck.

"Delete the number now and you will not be harmed."

An apple sprouted from a bonsai tree on the counter, then neatly detached. Without looking, Sienna caught it and took a bite, seemingly unconcerned with the impending violence.

Vance screamed at a pitch you wouldn't think a male would be capable of. Sprinting around the room, he hides behind Azula who looked ready to stab him herself. Elise surprised the urge to laugh and Thomas scratches the back of his head.

"Yeah, I think he got the message."

"Good." the swords disappear.