Man of Fiction

"Now that we are all here, I have a question."

Emily, Alaric, and Gareth leaned closer together on the table, with their heads close to their respective cream soda drinks. Earlier that Saturday morning, Magda texted Emily to meet her at the Opal Drinks with Alaric and Gareth. When she informed the two of Magda's sudden request for a meeting, the monk asked her what she wanted to talk to them about. Emily feared that she was going to ask them about the confusing argument that they had back at the hospital.

When they arrived at the meet-up place, Alaric was already there. She shared her suspicions to him, right before the perky redhead entered the drink shop. They took their orders, anticipating Magda's every move. The redhead finally spoke, which alerted the trio.

"... Is Gareth upset about the Mob Boy Order Fan Meeting that occurred during the Racket Vengers Attack?"

They all blinked at her question. Emily was so busy that week that she had no time to check her social media about any geek-related gathering. "You called us here, just to ask about an event that has been finished?" Alaric asked, sipping his ice-cold drink.

"I overheard Gareth yell at Emily about Mob Boy Order, during the night we both got admitted to the hospital." Magda explained. "I assumed he was talking about the event that happened that day. He seemed really upset, and he must have wanted to go."

Gareth opened his mouth, but Emily patted his lap. "So what's your point?" she asked her friend.

"I came to tell you that there's another event at Lacras," Magda said, earning shocked faces from her peers. The redhead brought out her phone, showing articles of the Mob Boy Order Second Fan Meeting. "The author is going to make an appearance, because she's going to talk about her new book." she added. "She's going to be doing a Q&A about Mob Boy Order too!"

Emily and Gareth exchanged hopeful glances. Operation Adonis was still in motion, for them. The next phase of their plan was to meet the one who created him--the author herself.

"When is this happening?" Emily asked, taking the phone from her.

"Sometime next week." Magda answered. The brunette scrolled through the article and read the details. "This is perfect," Emily said, but her attention was on the boys. "I'm going to Lacras next week, for work. The MBO Fan Meeting is going to take place days after the conference that my boss is going to attend. I can go there, meet the author, and tell her what's going on!"

"Speaking of the author," Alaric said, bringing out a red folder from his leather jacket. "I found this, while I investigated on the girl Gareth was looking for."

"You mean the girl Gareth is in love with?!" Magda exclaimed. "Did you find her, Alaric?!"

"Not really?" the detective said, startled by her excitement. "I ran her name on the search bar, but all I could find was an alias. Doctor Rowan Adonis is a pseudonym used by the author herself." Gareth took the folder and read its contents, which was a Lacrassan Citizenship Personal Information file. It contained the name, address, contact information, and birth registry of the author of Mob Boy Order.

Gareth took out his phone and he began to dial the phone number printed on the document. Alaric shook his head and closed his phone. "Don't bother, I already tried," he warned. "This is just the phone number to her office. I inquired what time she goes to work, but the person there told me she rarely visits unless she's meeting her editor or submitting a manuscript."

"Did you ask for her contact number?" Emily asked.

"I did, but they would not disclose it. They gave me her business email, but it's just for fans." the detective said. "She's kind of a celebrity, after all."

"Wait a minute," Magda said, grabbing the attention of the three. She placed a hand over her mouth, gasping. "YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH THE AUTHOR?!"

Her shock filled the empty establishment, waking up the sleepy server in charge of the cashier. Gareth was about to dispute her claim, but Emily interrupted him. "Oh yes," she said, giving the monk a knowing look. "She's the one he's looking for. Right, Gareth?"

He quickly understood what she was implying, and he started nodding along with her. "That's right. I must see her." he said.

"Then go!" Magda squealed. "You can go with Emily, next week!"

"Yes, that is what I intend to do." Gareth replied, smiling.

"Wait, you can't go there." Alaric butted in. "He needs a passport."

"I'm sure he has one!" Magda said. "They give that to you when you apply for Citizenship, along with the certificate, Green Card, and I.D."

"You're on a 65-day probation, remember?" the detective said, looking at the monk. "Which means, you were given every single document, but a passport. You can't leave the West, without a passport, and you can't get one until you get your birth registry."

Gareth sighed. "How did you know that?"

"You thought I would not investigate you?"

"Al!" Emily scolded.

Regardless, Detective Alaric brought up an obstacle that they had to overcome. He only had a month left till his probation was over, and they still haven't come up with a plan on how to get a birth registry. "Did you lose your birth registry, by any chance?" Magda asked him.

"Yes, which is why I was given a notice." the monk answered. "I...lost my copy, you see."

"Then why didn't you issue a new one with your hospital?"

"Because I wasn't born here."

"You mean, you were born in Lacras?" Magda asked. "You don't look eastern."

"Yes, but his parents are of the West but he was raised there!" Emily immediately said. Gareth smiled at her quick thinking. This gave Alaric another idea, and it was all thanks to his experience as a law enforcer. "If that's the case, then you can write an appeal letter to city hall." he suggested. "Simply state in the letter that you lost your birth registry due to damage, and that you were born in Lacras. Then they will grant you a temporary travel pass for fourteen days, so you can acquire your birth registry."

"That's a brilliant plan, Detective!" Gareth said, astonished.

"I can write the letter for you," Emily offered. "We need to make it convincing."

"We have to go now," Magda said. "They close on Sundays, and aren't you leaving for the East next week?"

"We can drive to Hembrandt Capitol." Alaric said, showing his keys.

"I don't think you are in the right condition to drive any sort of vehicle, at the moment." Gareth said, pointing to Alaric's cemented arm cast. "I have a fair amount of experience in driving, so please hand me the keys, Detective." The monk tried to fish the car keys from his hands, but Alaric gripped on it and moved his hand away.

"Over my dead body!" he scoffed, protective over his keys.

"Al, just let him drive us." Emily pleaded, recalling the episodes of Mob Boy Order where Gareth drove trucks and limousines. "We don't have that much time. Please?"

Detective Alaric tried to resist the pouting Emily Rose. Magda amusingly watched her female friend win the battle. She tried her best not to laugh out loud at how the detective twitched at his face muscles. Soon, the detective cracked and groaned in defeat. He reluctantly surrendered his cherished car keys to the monk. "Please be careful with it." he begged him. "This was inherited to me by my dad."

"I will protect you all with my life." Gareth said, determined.

Bentlee raised a brow. "That's a bit too dramatic, don't you think?"

*****

The old office lady from the Travel Permittance eyed the letter that Emily Rose crafted at the Capitol's only internet cafe. It read:

To the Travel Permittance Department Chair:

Greetings,

I am kindly requesting the Travel Permittance Department for a travel appeal. I am a Lacrassan citizen, who has recently applied to become a Hembrandt citizen. Due to unforeseeable circumstances, I have damaged my birth registry during my travels to the western region. Upon arriving to Hembrandt, I have informed City Hall about my damaged birth registry, which happens to be one of the required documents for western citizenship. With that being said, I am now a Hembrandt citizen with a probation status, and this has forbidden me to travel between regions. Therefore, I am in need of a temporary travel pass, in order for me to acquire a re-issued birth registry from my birth hospital located in Lacras. First and foremost, I apologize for the inconvenience that I am causing. Secondly, I am genuinely hoping that you consider my situation. I thank you for your time and effort, in this time of need.

Sincerely,

Gareth Tosh

State I.D. 345903

The lady, who happened to be the chair of Travel Permittance, looked back and forth between Gareth and Alaric. Both of them smiled innocently at her, but her moody expression remained unchanged. Emily and Magda sat by the door, watching the boys work their magic from afar. Emily could only hope her secretary skills were more than enough to concoct the perfect, persuasive government letter.

The Travel Permittance chair read the letter a second time, then she placed it down and eyed the monk in question. "May I ask how you damaged your birth registry?" she asked, sternly.

"It accidentally got run over by the car of my friend, right here." Gareth explained, nodding to the unbelieving Alaric Bentlee. The lady turned her stink eye to the detective. "Is that true, officer?" she asked him.

"It's detective," Alaric corrected. "And...yes, I already had my car running, not realizing he dropped it somewhere. He can be quite a clutz, at times." This response made Gareth clench his jaw, but he forced a friendly smile. "That's right." he simply said.

"I guess it can't be helped, since your birth registry is a fundamental requirement for western citizenship." she mused, looking through Gareth's recent documents. "Since you are Lacrassan by birth, may I know why you decided to move here? I hear the East is a swell place."

"Not to the Travel Permittance, my son." the lady said, frowning. "Traveling between regions of Agapen is a very strict and delicate process. Therefore, our authority gives us the right to ask potential travelers any type of question, especially the most personal ones. But rest assured, that the information that you disclose will become strictly confidential. So let me ask you again, why did you decide to move here?"

Gareth thought long and hard for a realistic story. He was partially afraid to lie to a very important government official, for he had an assumption that she was also a living lying detector. Telling her the real reason might make her alert other authorities--trying to tell someone that he was trying to get back to a world that's popularly known as a piece of fiction, is definitely a ridiculous thing to do.

"I simply want a fresh start, my lady." Gareth said, softening his gaze towards the woman. She looked at him like she has never been addressed as "My lady", before. "My life back then...in the east, that is, has not been very pleasant." he continued, calmly. "I guess my clumsy behavior shows how much it has messed me up (the monk caught the detective rolling his eyes, at this phrase.). I want to find a new sense of peace in Hembrandt. So, I hope you allow me to have that chance. I just want a home that I can call my own."

The lady placed a hand on her large chest. Gareth gave her the kindest smile, which melted away her stoic appearance. Alaric sighed and crossed his arms, seeing that his charming nature has completely won her over. "Oh my, for some reason," she gaped. "I am moved by your story. You must have gone through a lot of hardships, haven't you?"

"I most certainly have." Gareth said, humbly.

The Travel Permittance chair opened her drawer and brought out a blue card. She stamped the front part and started writing on it. "In that case, I hope you get what you are looking for, Mr. Tosh." she said, handing him a signed and approved travel pass.

He smiled brightly at the office lady. "Thank you for your generous service, Miss…?"

The lady snorted. "Call me Petunia."

"Petunia," Gareth repeated, making her gush over the way he enunciated the letters of her name. "I will remember that."

The lady laughed bashfully when Gareth stood and bowed his head to her. The sheepish Alaric placed an arm around his shoulder, and he steered him out of the Travel Permittance Office. The two girls closely followed them out and heard the detective mock Gareth. "Oh, I accidentally ran over your birth registry, huh?" he said, mimicking the monk's neutral tone. "Forgive me for causing such a terrible misfortune."

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were mocking me." Gareth said, looking ahead.

"Also, Tosh? Really? Where on Agapen did you get that name from?"

"I think I saw it labeled on a speaker, the last time I was here."

"You're really something, Gareth... Tosh."

Emily and Magda walked right behind the two men, exchanging smugs with one another. "Is it me or are these two are finally getting along?" Emily asked Magda.

"Whatever's the case," Magda replied, throwing an arm around her. "You're heading East! You're going to meet the author! Are you excited?"

"Honestly, yeah. I am."

A sunset ended their eventful day at the Hembrandt Capitol. Emily suggested that they should eat out somewhere, to celebrate Gareth's acquisition of the travel pass. However, Magda Travey took a rain-check, telling her that she needed to be at Mavon City for a family gathering that same evening. As usual, Gareth drove everyone back home. He dropped off Magda first, and then drove back to Opal City. Emily lost track on how many times she told the monk to slow down, for his driving skills were comparable to her father's race car drifting. Alaric, who sat at the passenger seat, could only hang on to the car's indoor handle. He also muttered a few prayers, when Gareth drove into the freeway.

"What day are you leaving for Lacras?" Alaric asked Emily, who was at the backseat.

"Monday morning." she replied. "It is going to be a long week."

"I'll say," the detective agreed. "Do you have everything you need? Is there anything that I can get for you and Gareth?"

"We're good," Emily reassured. "Thank you for lending us your car."

"Uhm, of course!" he said, breathing heavily. "Gareth is superb at driving. It feels like we are competing for the Agapen Racing Cup, or something. We are definitely not going to die!"

"Not to worry, I am driving at my normal speed rate." Gareth said, his green eyes glued to the clear roads. "I must say, the cars of Agapen seem much easier to control, compared to the ones in my world."

"This is normal?!"

"Just keep an eye on the speed limit signs, Gareth." Emily advised.

"Of course, Emily." Gareth said, regarding her through the front-view mirror.

"By the way," Alaric continued. "Your mother is at Lacras, right? What are you going to do, if you see her?"

Before things got eerie for them, Emily's phone rang. She dodged her friend's question and pressed the green button on her phone. "Hey, dad." she pleasantly said.

"What? I'm afraid I can't go." She continued. "I have a business trip at Lacras, the day after tomorrow. What? They live in the East too?! Are you sure you can't go? I might be--fine. When will it take place? Okay, I will wait for it. Yeah, it's no problem. Love you, bye." When she put down her phone, she leaned her head against the car seat and bleated. "We have a new problem, guys." she grunted.

"What's wrong?" Gareth asked.

"Dad's asking me to attend Deborah and Donnie's baby shower." she answered.

"Wait, Donnie as in your older brother?" Alaric gasped.

"Yeah, turns out they also live in the East." Emily said. "Dad can't go because he has a race. He's asking me to attend for him."

"Will it interfere with our mission?" Gareth asked again.

Emily's phone buzzed, telling her that there was a new message from her father. "I don't think so," she answered the monk. "The Fan Meeting is on a Friday, while the Baby shower is on Thursday."

"We can go together, then." Gareth said. "It's no problem, Emily." From the front-view mirror, Alaric saw a glimpse of Emily's face turn into a shade of scarlet, when the word "together" came out of the monk's mouth. He wanted to roll his eyes again, but a part of him suddenly felt a little bit heavy. He tried his best to brush it off, for the rest of the ride. Soon, they arrived at Opal City. Instead of heading to the Sunrise Apartment, they went straight to Alaric's Dusk Apartment.

"Allow us to take you back to your studio apartment, Detective." Gareth said.

"I broke my arm, not my legs." Alaric argued.

"It would make me feel better, if we see you off." Emily said. Alaric automatically shut his mouth, deciding not to argue. After Gareth parked his car, he offered a hand to the injured detective. Alaric swatted his hand off, showing him that he was still capable of moving on his own. Again, he only broke an arm. But it did not stop his body from wobbling out of the car.

Emily and Gareth walked him inside, where an open elevator was waiting for him. "Well, this is it." Alaric said. "I wish I could come with you to help. But as you can see, I am out of commission."

"You've done more than enough for the both of us." Gareth said. "In spite of the differences, I want you to know that I greatly appreciate the assistance you have given us."

"Yes, you've been very helpful, Al." Emily added. "We could not have gotten this far, without you."

Alaric was still not used to being showered with gratitude and compliments, even if it came from Emily Rose. His only response was to scratch the back of his neck. "You don't have to thank me," he said, cheekily. "Just promise me that you guys are going to be careful."

"We will," Emily said, giving him the most delicate hug. Her body barely pressed against him, weary of his casted arm. Alaric gave her a nice pat on the back, but he felt his face heat up at the gesture. "Good luck to the both of you," he said. "Update me, if you can."

"See you later, Al!" his college friend said, leaving the building with Gareth.

Alaric entered the elevator and watched the two leave the Dusk Apartment. The heaviness came back to bother the detective. This time, it was not because he was suspicious of Gareth. He was certain that the monk was a good guy and that he would never put Emily in harm's way. There was another reason behind the sinking feeling, but Alaric has yet to figure out what was really troubling him.

"They kinda look good together," he said, letting the elevator doors close.