Mai Legacy
1.7 - A Threat to the Legacy
Susan sighed as she looked around James’s rather disappointing home. Bare walls, very little natural light, and above all else, the fact that it was all a single room… how did he live like this? The most interesting thing in his entire house was some fancy looking suit of armor that definitely didn’t belong in a house like James’s.
James had asked Susan to watch his place while he went off to the Casbah Gallery to present a painting that was generating a decent amount of attention. He’d insisted that this presentation could make his entire career, but he was afraid to leave his place alone because Jacques was clearly up to something. Then, when she’d heard that Salim was busy and Akira was too busy trying to make nice with Jacques again, she had no choice but to housesit for him. While she was on good terms with Jacques, she was still very well aware of what he’d done to Salim, and she didn’t want the same to happen to anyone else.
She sighed as she looked over the place again. She didn’t even know why he’d asked her. Sure, they’d agreed to try to be friends again, for Akira’s sake, but, honestly, she’d say that at this point they were more like acquaintances than friends. Sure, she’d missed him, and it seemed as if James had clearly missed her, but Susan barely knew the man. For all she knew, she was just missing the idea of him, the memory of the brief amount of time she spent with him.
That last full day she’d spent with James, while amazing at first, had quickly developed into one of her least favorite days of all time. He really had the gall to ask her out, a girl he barely knew… did James plan that whole day just to get laid? It’d happened to plenty of girls she knew before; a guy pretends he wants a relationship, then once he coerces the girl into sex… he vanishes, and the girl is left heartbroken. That was exactly what Susan had feared, and that was why that day, she’d resolved to cut James off forever. Akira messed with that plan at Geekcon, but still; Susan certainly wasn’t planning to end up going out of her way to help or hang out with James again.
So… why was she here now?
Susan sighed loudly. Part of her just wanted to hit her head against the wall. Maybe that would help her sort out her thoughts.
As she considered doing that, there came a sudden rapid knocking at James’s door.
“Finally!” Susan called out. “I have my own life too, you know James! I’ve got an important soccer game tomorrow I’ve gotta be well rested for…” she finished the rest in a quieter voice, meant only for her. “Not that you’d know that.”
She threw open the door, and came face to face with Akira, who has his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. He was completely drenched in sweat.
“Akira? Are you alright?” she asked, concerned.
“Susan? What are you-? Never mind. Listen, is James here?” Akira asked hurriedly.
“No, but what’s going-“
“Good” Akira sighed, cutting her off. “He probably can’t do anything meaningful then.”
“What’s up?” Susan asked. “Like seriously dude, you’re worrying me.”
“Jacques. We had a fight, and we started yelling about James- anyway, he’s on his way here. As soon as he left, I ran here as fast as I could to warn James, but seeing that he isn’t here…”
Susan stepped outside, allowing the front door to close behind her.
“James is at some sort of art presentation at Casbah, and I was the only person available to housesit but… Jacques? I heard a little from James, but he didn’t give me any details. What happened between the two of them?”
“Not surprising he didn’t tell you…” Akira muttered. “Alright. To keep it brief, they got into a fight last week because Jacques convinced himself that I was going to leave him for James. And then I made the mistake of sticking up for James, so Jacques has spent the last week getting more and more ornery…”
Susan’s mouth dropped. “Just like what happened with Salim… Akira, what happened? How did your relationship with Jacques end up like this? You two used to be so happy together…”
“Susan, Susan, Susan…” an ominous voice said from behind them. “Its been a few years! And you’ve certainly ended up as quite the disappointment. No man, no money… all you are is a mediocre soccer player. It’s a shame you stopped talking to me after I put Salim in his rightful place… a man with my influence could have helped you get so much further…”
“Jacques!” Akira exclaimed.
Susan leapt into action, and hurried to block the front door, knowing that above all else, James had wanted her to protect his sad little home. But Jacques, slippery as an eel, grabbed the doorknob and rushed into the house just before she blocked it. He slammed and locked the door, then laughed at Susan and Akira from the window.
“Stop it Jacques!” Susan shouted. “James isn’t even here! There’s nothing for you in there!”
“While, admittedly, that's disappointing, there’s still something else I can do.” Jacques said with a grin before disappearing from the window.
“Wait…” Susan muttered. Her mind racing, she remembered the strangely out of place armor in James’s place, then suddenly, it connected. That armor… it was the armor Victor Feng had mentioned at the pool. The Legacy Armor. It had certainly sounded important… and while James had suggested selling it at the time, Susan knew that she’d screwed up in leaving it undefended.
“Akira,” Susan said in a panicked voice. “I just realized- there’s something important in there that we can’t let Jacques get his hands on. Something that could ruin James’s life just as badly as Jacques ruined Salim’s.”
“I’ll call the police,” Akira said quickly, pulling out his phone. “I… I hate to do this to him. But I don’t have any other choice, do I?”
“No…” Susan said quietly. “Maybe… maybe this will bring him back to his senses. Humble him a little.”
Akira frowned and sadly shook his head. He knew it wouldn’t. This would only make Jacques angrier. But he couldn’t let what had happened to Salim happen again, so he dialed the number.
Wanting to try to help in her own way, Susan tried kicking down the door to little effect. Exasperated, she started yelling. “Jacques! I know what you’re after! How do you know about the Legacy Armor?"
"Friends in high places... friends who do all the right research... no worries though, Susan. Once this is gone, and I destroy the writ inside, James will have no choice but to crawl back home to mommy and daddy! He’ll be out of our hair for good! You won’t have to worry about him falling in love with you again… and I won’t have to worry about Akira leaving me to join some legacy family. Regardless, the Le Chiens have been and will continue to do an exceptional job as the legacy family of Windenburg for centuries to come!”
While this was going on, Akira was talking to the police operator. “Um, yes, my deranged husband has locked himself inside my best friend’s house?” He paused. “No, all he has is some suit of armor.”
Jacques dragged the Legacy Armor within view of the window. “You seem to know what this represents, don’t you Susan? I have a friend who has a long lasting legacy and he’s informed me that if this object ever leaves the property for longer than 24 hours, the legacy is over.”
“I’m not letting you leave with that,” Susan said boldly. “Akira and I will block this door, the house has no other exits.”
“Likely story!” Jacques snorted. "No legacy family would live in a house without a second exit, even if it’s just a secret passage, they're supposed to be rich and powerful!"
“Good luck,” Susan smiled.
If she had to play the part of bold, and she was going to play it well. James would be devastated to lose his legacy before it had even begun, and as much as she was unsure about her relationship with him, she didn’t want play part in destroying something he was clearly excited to take part in.
Jacques, now panicking, disappeared from the window to check if there truly was no other way out. Susan could now hear the faint sound of police sirens wailing in the distance as police boats approached the island, and nodded her thanks to Akira.
Before she knew it, the police were there, dragging Jacques out of the house.
“I’ll be back, don’t you worry,” Jacques promised. “I will be rid of James, if it’s the last thing I do.”
Susan let out a deep breath once Jacques was gone. Whatever Jacques has been planning… James didn’t deserve that. As unsure as she was about him, she didn’t wish him any ill will.
“I can’t believe this happened,” Akira said quietly, looking down at the ground. “When Jacques said he wanted to meet James, I thought it was just because he wanted to get to know my friends again, like he did way back when with you, Susan, but… and now all this has happened. I can’t help but wonder if this is all my fault.”
Susan shook her head. “Not at all, Akira. Jacques… he’s changed since then. I don’t think I know enough to say anything about why, but he seems more jaded now. More willing to lash out. I hope you two manage to work stuff out.”
“Thank you, Susan. Seriously. Um… to change the subject, do you think we should let James know about all of this?”
“Oh, duh. Of course, I should have done that already! I’ll text him.”
As Akira dealt with the police, Susan hung back, texting James about the situation that had gone down at his place while he’d been away.
I can’t believe all of that happened! James was texting. I leave for one afternoon, and suddenly, everything happens. I can’t believe I was going to throw a post presentation get together tonight and invite Akira and Jacques to try to make nice with that man. Hardly seems the right thing to do now
Smiling to herself, Susan texted back a plan that was slowly brewing in her mind. No. You know what James? If you want a way to really stick it to Jacques, throw that party! Don’t invite him, of course, but invite everyone you can and show him that you’re not phased in the slightest. I can even reach out to some more distant friends I have, just to grow your attendee numbers a bit. Wait I’m so sorry im oh I just invited myself didn’t I ignore that part James
Please Susan. You and all of your friends are more than welcome to come tonight. I will show Jacques that he doesn’t frighten me! Im excited for this! Thank you!
“Hey Akira,” Susan said, gesturing for him to head over.
Akira held up one finger to tell the police one second, then headed over. “What’s up?”
“James and I thought it’d be a good idea to host a party tonight to show Jacques that we’re unbothered. You in?”
Akira frowned. “I… It’s a good idea, but I’m afraid of pissing off Jacques even more.”
“Akira, please? James would really appreciate it, I’m sure.”
“Wooow,” Akira said with a slight smile. “Look who suddenly knows James. Fine. I’ll be there, but Jacques can’t find out. Got it?”
Susan nodded, and Akira headed back over to the police.
Smiling to herself, Susan scrolled through her contacts. Akira was in… she was sure Salim would be able to make it too. And… hm, she was in town. Wouldn’t hurt to invite her. And… her most impressive friend… well, more like acquaintance… if she stretched the truth about who James was a bit, she might just be able to get her as well.
This was going to be great!
The party started later that evening. Susan was the first to arrive, as she felt she should be there because she’d been the one to invite everyone. She and James sat at his cheap looking dining room table in an awkward silence for a while, before James finally broke the silence.
“H-Hey. Susan? Thank you, for, well, all of this.”
Susan shook her head. “It’s not a problem, James. Jacques is a pretty real threat, and your friends should be here for you right now.”
“Still… you really didn’t need to bring five extra folding chairs for this.”
Susan waved a nonchalant hand.
After a while, there was a knock on the door, and James was awed to see the Penny Pizzazz, queen of the radio, model, and drama talk show extraordinaire, strut through his front door. Susan had met her when she’d done a story on the woman’s soccer league a few months back, and during her interview with Susan, the two had become fast friends.
“I’m in the right place, right? This is the home of James Mai, the new contender for the Windenburg legacy?” Penny said, stepping into the house.
“I’m not sure contender is the right word, but yeah! I’m starting a legacy,” James grinned from where he sat at the table.
Spotting Susan, Penny’s eyes lit up and she hurried over to hug her. “Susan! This is… uh… not what I was expecting! But alright. Anything for the scoop.”
“I’m glad you were able to make it, Penny,” Susan said.
Spotting the Legacy Armor, Penny walked over. “What’s this? There’s gotta be a story behind this! It doesn’t fit the decor here in the slightest! Tell me James, this whole legacy family thing is so shrouded in mystery… does armor like this play some kind of important rule?”
James was saved from answering by another knock on the door. He got up from his chair and opened up the door to let in Salim.
“Hey James,” Salim waved. His eyes drifted to the back of the room, and once he saw Penny, his smile dropped from his face. “Penny.”
"Oh... Salim Benali..." Penny muttered. “Susan… you didn’t tell me he’d be here.”
Salim waked over to Penny. “You know that publishing that obviously doctored video of my book signing ruined my career, right? How do you sleep at night?”
Penny looked up at the ceiling, wracking her brain to try to remember all the details of what she’d published much earlier in her career. “Um…"
“You aired a segment on a crazed old man who destroyed a book signing, remember?”
“That destroyed your career? I heard from Susan that you blamed me, but I had no idea that it was, you know… that.”
“And you never thought to ask Susan why I blamed you? I can’t believe this…”
Penny shook her head firmly. “I refuse to dwell in the past. I’ve only gotten to where I am today by constantly moving forward, and ignoring any bridges I may have burned on my path to success. But Salim? I promise you that ruining your career wasn’t my plan. This juicy looking video landed on my lap, fresh from a very reputable source… and I didn’t hesitate. I’m sorry.”
Salim rolled his eyes. “All you just did was describe a sociopath. It’s going to take a lot more than empty apologies for me to ever even begin believing that you’re sorry.”
Penny was silent for a minute. An awkward tension filled the air and everyone sat there with bated breath until she finally spoke again.
“It probably doesn’t mean much, but how about we meet for lunch tomorrow Salim? To talk about putting out a story that can help you, you know, untarnish your image a bit.”
“Fine,” Salim sighed.
Everyone made small talk until Akira showed up.
“Akira!” James called out, waving from the table as he let himself in.
“Hey guys,” he said with a forced smile.
Susan frowned. She felt bad. Here Akira was at some party thrown mainly with the intention of mocking Jacques, his husband, because she’d spent time convincing him. This couldn’t be anywhere near a comfortable situation for him… and it was all her fault.
She didn’t have much time to dwell on it, however, as someone else followed Akira in before he even had time to shut the door.
She was a woman with fierce red hair, sharply framed square glasses, and a permanent scowl on her face. Eliza Pancakes. Susan had met her years back when she studied abroad in Willow Creek, and the two always made sure to meet up whenever Eliza took one of her rather frequent trips to San Myshuno to escape her husband.
Eliza’s marriage to her husband, Bob, was so infamously poor that they’d both practically become minor celebrities. The two made so many appearances on various reality TV shows, always fighting, so consistently teetering on the edge of divorce that they’d captured the public eye. Even the best psychiatrists called their entire marriage a mystery.
“Susan!” Eliza called out as she stepped through the door. It has been far too long, you have just got to come back and visit Willow Creek again sometime soon!”
Akira retreated to the table and sat down next to Salim.
"I would if I could, Eliza," Susan smiled. "You know I just don't have the money for that right now."
Eliza slammed the front door shut, threw her bag down on the floor, and stalked over to the table. ”You know how hard it is, living alone out there with Bob, right? He’s terrible! The house is always in complete disarray, why, if I couldn’t fly out to see you whenever I felt like it, Susan, I really could see myself finally divorcing Bob.”
She sat herself down at the table, and turned to James. “Anyway, you're James, right? You know, she probably doesn’t want me to tell you this, but I’m going to anyway. I’ve spent way too many hours on the phone with her listening to her groan on and on about how confused she is about her feelings for you. And I always told her the same thing: if you find a good man, jump on it! Most are monsters. My husband, for one.”
James froze, and turned to Susan, who was turning a fierce shade of red.
Akira gave James a sly little smile. “Well James?”
“E-Eliza! How could you?” Susan stammered.
Eliza rolled her eyes. “Honey, if I didn’t say anything, nothing was going to happen. Honestly, you should be thanking me.”