Flint was finally done naming the new business. No, not merely named but conceptualized. He’d bought a large vacant warehouse along a bus route in a popular part of town away from Silk Moth, and hired graphic designers to work on the name. Well, once, a rather nice young woman whom worked from home he liked the style of whom got it. He paid interior designers to make the warehbouse over,playing into the aethetic of a vintageindustriial compleximporting clothing for all people from saome unseen dimension. He had his people getting popular bbrands from different Ips to agree to his stopre. Exclusives. Hell he’d talked Nintyendo into tolerating a secxtion. He let them manage designs and had explained his desired content. It was all coming together! Sao why in hell did he feel like Emperor Palpatine was bearing down oin him like an evil god?

“Mister Roland, you have a visitor. Shall I send him in?”

Flint’s head snapped. His secretary was a nice person, polite, a kiond single mother he offered work to. Sowhen she said ‘visitor’ Flint wondered who it was.

“Send them in and take a luinch break. Make it longer, your kids deserve Mom time.” Kid? Flint needed to re-affirm.

“Yes sir, Mister Roland!” His secretary lit ujp. Fflint personally had a daycare onsite free for his employees, for kids up to twelve, but he still ewanted his employeesto get time with their kids. It mattered. Sohe was thinking about his employees when a surp[rising, if familiar form entered his office and Flint stopped, brow raising.

“Hadrian Tucana.” Flint stiffened, chion rising. “I never expected you to seek me out.”

Not after Flint made a monetary threat to destroy his finances. But Hadrian was behaving, so Flint didn’t throw him out. Froim howEzekielspoke… This might be related to something bothering his friend.

“I want your help with a little family matter.” Hadrian sat uninvited, legscrossing. It impressed Flint how the old man was flexible. Fliunt grunted, bropw raising in silent question as Hadrian folded his hands, voice turning cold. “I want help giving my grandchildren the best family lawyer money cvan afford in town. You see, my son Valents abused my grandson Ace. He’s staying with my granddaughter Yolanda, and I’m… Desperate. You see if I finance it, Valents’ lawyuer can say I’m playing unfair.”

“So you’re hoping to make it look like others noticedas well and offered to help just in case the source of the lawyer is saught as evidence of false accusatiuons. Zeke mentioned Ace. But why me? I’ve never met Zeke’s cousin. He mostly speaks of her.” Flint motioned. Hadrian leaned forwards.

“You have the money.” Hadrian said simply. “And Ace is fifteen. And his father was beating him. Say whjat you will of me. But I will not tolerate any of my children abusing family nor my own being abused again.”

It was telling. Ezekiel had mentioned what happened to Yolanda’s nmother,and… Huh. Hadrian could be sane. A manafter Flint’s heart, when he wanted to be.

“Fine, but only because Zeke worries about his cousin. Not for you.” Flint sniffed. Hadrian froze.

“Without compensation? You—”

“Zejke’s my friend. He cares about his cousins.” Flint paused. “But it’s also for Ace. My parents weren’t much better than his about my gender.” Flint sniffed. He expected mockery. Instead, Hadrian stiffened, seeming to get it. But Hadrian frowned.

“I’m not having an unpaid favor hanging over my head.” Hadrian hissed., Flint blinked slowly, staring.

“What do you do again?” Flint sighed. Hadrian sniffed.

“Real Estate. Imported goods. I have politicalconnections—” Hadrian began. Flint waved.


“Well if you iunsist on paying me back, it sounds like you sell to local restaurants. I can do with a high-end caterer for a new businessopening this fall. Italian food stalls, whaevccer. Of course, if you can get me several different food stalls from top restaurants, I can add carnical themes to the cgrand opening.” Flint hummed. Hadrian frowned.

“That’s the most idiotic idea I’ve heard toi open a business.” Hadrian snorted. Flint paused.

“Well you want to be rid of the debt you think you’d owe! But fine, maybe some gift cards tocover a few meals for over a family of three. At the good places. ?I planned to do a raffle anyhow. Hey, what does this kid like anyhow?” Flint hummed. Hadrian stared, then relaxed.

“Birds, mostly. Video games I think...Some...Soft… Gaming…. Think.” Hadrian waved. Flint blinked.

“I should see if the Slime Rancher devs will work with me on some content. I do need a corner, the Far Far Range would be a delightful theme. Maybe I can opay him to help advertise or… Test products…” Flint hiummed. Hadrian frowned.

“He’s [fiofteen! He’s-- It’s up to his cousin!” Hadrian huffed. Flint sniffed.

“I can ask Zeke to find out for me. If nothing else I’ll nab him some products.” Flint waved dismissively again but Hjadrian finally got it. The elkder man paused.

“...You… Sincerely want to help him.” Hadrian murmured. Flint nodded.

“Obviously. Like I said. My parents beat nme for not being the gender I was assigned when I was born. It leaves scars.Acecdeserves to feel like someone isin hiscorner aside his family. You insisted on repaying me. I had no interest but I won’t refuse if it affordspeace of mind. Just find who will take the case against his sire. I’ll pay it. He’ll get justice and your little ******** kid will lose custody. If the lawyer’s smart, he’ll never see the poor kid again. s**t, if his cpousin wants to legffally cadoipt – I’ll finance that. God knows I canaffoird to help people.”

Silence. Hadrian w2as staring in surprise. He knew Flint was Ezekiel’s friend, but…. This? Wasn’t friendship alone. This was compassion. Hadrian was silent, before his hands shook.

“I can get you in touch with the highest-end fashionmdesignersin Italy. For your luxury store.” It was all Hadrian could think. “They will work with your suppliers there.”

Flint’s eyes snapped to Hadrian. Some designershe just couldn’t get a single connection to., Flint knew Hadsrian wasoffering a high-profit thanks,and Flint inhaled, sighing.

“Alright but you need to speak with both my suppliers and ask them for other traditional sources whom might prefer an Italiancointact. I don’t screw my business partners and if you plan to do this I insist your company benefits. I’ll have my legal department send a handbook of my standards for business.” Flint gfolded his arms. Hadrian nodded.

“Then I will use it to ecxamine my business. But… Thank you. For Ace.” Hadrian managed, and Flint nodded.

“Any time. Now go buy the kid a game console or… Something. He needs a grandfather.,” Flint rolled his eyes, and nodded, laziuly walking Hadrian out.

Flint, though, was already contemplating how to help Ace. Ppart of him felt he needed to. Slowly, Glint tooka breath, closing the door behind Hadrian, and swallowed, blinking. He had…. He had to plan for new business options, but.. Ace. It was.. A lot,and Flint turned, sitting in hisoffice chair, and then sagged,