Little Stop at the Bus Stop

After his..brief...meeting with the CEO of the Schnee Dust Company, Malachi was now standing underneath a bus stop in the City of Mantle. He was soon joined by other citizens, who found ways to occupy themselves until the bus arrived, either by browsing through their scroll, checking their receipts/groceries, reading the newspaper, or even staring off into space. While Malachi was fine with this silence, he just spent his morning listening to business people and security guards telling him about the famed Schnee business, at this point, he just wanted a normal conversation. So, he would look at the citizens around him, spotting a beautiful diamond ring on one of the occupant's hands and noticing that he was browsing through various wedding venues.

"Sir, you got some real cheddar on your finger there." Malachi would point out with a smile as the man would look at his finger before smiling. "Oh, I see that smile, not the smile of a 'my homie just bought me a ring', but the smile of a man who just asked his beloved the most important question of the world."

"Still can't believe it, man, last week she was my girlfriend and now my fiancé." The man would say as he started to massage the ring. "I just hope that I will be the good husband that she deserves in her life." 

"Oh yeah? What makes you think you aren't?" Malachi would ask as the man looked up at him. "if you don't mind me asking."

The man would think for a couple of moments, wondering if he should be divulging his issues to a stranger, but he decided to go against his better judgment.

"Well, she is just amazing, man. When we first met, she was rubbing my back while I was vomiting my guts out at the back of the pub. When finding work was difficult after I got fired by the Schnee Corporation, she made sure that I was fed and had a roof over my head. She even took time out of her day to hold my hand as I told her my struggles, even when I thought about ending it all, she was the light that...made things so much easier..."

At this point of the story, everyone at the bus stop was all listening in.

"I just feel like she deserves the world and I want to surprise her with a beautiful venue, somewhere nice. Maybe to that newly opened place in Vale or maybe to the High-tower in Mistral. I just want to provide her something, y'know?" The man asked Malachi as he nodded.

An old lady, who was looking through the newspaper, would place her hand over the man's.

"You remind me so much of my husband Gerald. While he may not be with us anymore, he wanted to provide me with so much when we first got married. He was willing to break the bank just for me to be happy, but want to know what I told him?"

The man would nod, listening in as everyone now turned to the duo.

"While the venue shows the mask of the relationship, the heart will always show the soul. Now do you love this girl?" The granny would ask as Malachi smiled.

"Of course! With all of my heart!" The man would say confidently.

"And she must love you, right?" The granny would inquire further.

The man would nod.

"Then it doesn't matter what venue you go to. From the deserts of Vacuo to even the seas of Atlantis, as long as you two are together, that venue will be the best venue you can choose. Now, it may not be much, but I have a small cottage on the outskirts of Vale. My grandchildren were trying to coax me to sell it, but that cottage has been in my family for generations. I would like to give you the key."

The man's eyes would widen.

"W-Wait! That is too much! Please this is your home, not mine, I can't take something that is yours."

The old grandma would shake her head.

"The house will collect dust if I keep it in my collection, that won't do for my ancestors; instead, I would like you to have the cottage." The old grandma would say before removing her necklace that had the key attached and placing it in the man's hand. "You will make a great husband."

The man would wipe a tear before nodding.

"Thank you."

Inspired by this elderly women's action, others would rise.

"My abuela got a catering service, lemme know if you need someone to hook you up with some delicious food and even the cake!" a lady would say as she handed the man a card. "Don't worry, it's all on me!"

"I work in the public office, so let me know if you need me to steal a couple of suits for ya. Don't worry, we can fake anything in the government these days." The man would say with a boisterous laugh as he also handed the married man a card.

"I know a wedding organizer, tell me the theme or vision, and I'll make sure that those props and decorations are delivered and set-up for ya."

Everyone at the bus-stop would offer some sort of service, which left the married man completely in tears as he tried to remember what each business card/scroll number was for. Malachi was standing off in the corner, smiling to himself. 

The Bus would suddenly arrive and everyone would leave the bus stop and get on, all except Malachi, as a gold jeep would pull up right after. The windows would roll down as a 24-year-old Man would pull down his sunglasses.

"Yo! Little bro! You look like you need some meat on ya!"

"Nasir 'Roid Monster' Warren! I thought you weren't due in town for another month?" Malachi would shout as he entered the jeep before dabbing his brother up. 

The jeep would pull away from the sidewalk and start making its way down Warren Street.

"Well, turns out that when Pop sends the Head of Asset Protection and Security (what Nasir manages) to deal with a couple of White Fang sects that are disturbing our business, the Fang are far more worried about getting their asses kicked than putting up a good fight. Attacked a couple of their safe houses and next thing I knew, I was getting a call from Menagerie saying that the sects that attacked our convoys were part of some sort of fuckin splinter group." Nasir would explain as he sped down Warren Street, stopping at a red light before making a right turn.

"What happened to the sects?" Malachi inquired as Nasir smirked.

"Dunno, we just put them on an airship and sent them back to Menagerie to be dealt with by their leader. They may have costed us money, but they don't deserve to be killed for their stupidity." Nasir would answer as the car made another left turn before coming upon a gate as a security guard started to walk around to the passenger side. "Pops said it was the right call."

Malachi would roll down his window as a security guard would poke his head in, but once he sees the two Warrens, he would immediately radio for gate control to lift up the gate. The jeep would enter the Warren residence before coming to a halt just outside of the house.

"How did your meeting with the Schnee go?" Nasir would ask as he tossed the key over to the valet before giving him a fist bump as he walked passed. 

"Well, as good as you can expect from a guy who only really cares about himself. We were able to reach a favorable deal so that's that." Malachi would say with a nod to one of the security guards as they entered the mansion. "Wanna go see the fam before we make our reports?"

"Damn right, man!" Nasir would say before placing an arm around Malachi's shoulder as they walked throughout the mansion. "Think they'll still recognize me?"

"Not sure about everyone else, but you do have a face only a mother would love." Malachi would say with a smirk before now being placed in a chokehold by Nasir.

"Take that back! My face is beautiful!"

"CAP-GAH!!"