Private Welcome back to the fire Pt.1

[Sommer Dai]

"Welcome Back to the Fire Pt.1"
The Gilded Veil – Four Days Into Sommer's Absence​

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It was mid-shift, peak volume, and every floor of The Gilded Veil was humming when the doors opened — not with flair, but quiet gravity.

She walked in, wrapped in a black cloak flecked with dust from hyperspace, boots still scuffed from foreign ground. Her hair was tied back, slightly frayed. A shallow gash above one eyebrow. Dried blood at the collarbone. No makeup. No smile.

Just Sommer Dai.​

 

[Kaelon Virex]

Kael saw her from the upper balcony — and froze mid-conversation with Arq.

"She's back," he said quietly.

 

[Arq*]

Arq blinked. "Already?"

 

[Kaelon Virex]

Kael nodded. "Signa-Ki fallout she told me about must've moved faster than she expected."

 

[Arq*]

"Or slower than she hoped," Arq murmured, suddenly serious.

 

[Sommer Dai]

Down below, the music faded slightly as the crowd registered her. A few regulars recognized her immediately. The floor parted. Respect. Fear. Awe.


Sommer walked through like the eye of a storm.

she peeled off her cloak and collapsed into her chair with a sigh that sounded like it had cost her something. Kael leaned against the wall, arms crossed. Arq paced with a datapad and an absurdly tall drink with a parasol sticking out of it.

"Talk," Sommer rasped, voice rough.

 

[Arq*]

"Club's intact," Arq began. "We've had three minor brawls, one roof leak, a dancer breakdown — resolved — and Kael has only caused two and a half PR disasters."

 

[Kaelon Virex]

Kael raised a brow. "What's the half?"

 

[Arq*]

"The part where you punched the senator's cousin but apologized afterward."

 

[Sommer Dai]

Sommer gave a tired, approving nod. "Fair."

 

[Kaelon Virex]

Kael stepped forward, softer. "You okay?"

 

[Sommer Dai]

Sommer looked at him — really looked.

"No," she said. "But I'm here."

 

[Kaelon Virex]

Kael didn't push. He knew the kind of wounds that didn't bleed where others could see.

 

[Sommer Dai]

She adjusted in her seat. "Anything I need to handle?"

 

[Arq*]

Arq slid the datapad across the desk. "Everything's logged. We had a few buyers nosing around the liquor license. Nothing serious. Also, Velvatrax quantities doubled while you were gone — but with consent from the performers. I supervised it."

 

[Sommer Dai]

Sommer skimmed the files. Her jaw tightened. "No more increases. I don't want a dependency culture. They know that."

 

[Arq*]

Arq nodded without argument.

 

[Kaelon Virex]

Kael interjected gently, "The dancers were good, though. Strong. Confident. You've built something real here, Sommer."

 

[Sommer Dai]

That got her attention.

For a second, something flickered in her eyes — not pride, but… pressure. The kind that comes from knowing the thing you built only works if you never stop holding it together.

She exhaled. "Good."

A pause. Her gaze swept to Kael.

"You get any other visits?"

 

[Kaelon Virex]

Kael blinked.

Every muscle in him pulled taut — a moment of decision, hot and sharp.

Tell her.
Don't tell her.
She deserves to know.
She has enough to carry.
It's her club.
But you're protecting her, just like she protected herself for years.

He smiled carefully.

"Just the usual. A few syndicate types poking around. I handled it."