Indulging in a card game with Jasper isn't how Tai had hoped to spend his birthday. 

Losing to him is even worse.

"Looks like I win this, too," Jasper says, plucking his own card and Tai's from the surface of the table and placing them under his ever-growing stack.

Tai can't muster up much care at being bested in yet another round of Jester's Duel, some game Jasper insists is popular in his aggressively uninteresting world.

Taking note of the bitter twist of Tai's mouth and the gloom in his eyes, Jasper tries to go easy on the gloating.

"When did Skander say he'd be back?" he asks, delicately pivoting the subject away from Tai's losses. Lionel and his brother had left the city last week on a visit to their mother, who had apparently taken ill from the relentless new chills of October.

If he'd hoped that the mention of that name might clear the clouds from Tai's face, he's disappointed when his expression shutters further. "Since she's healing well, his last letter said he'd return within the next few days. The earliest possible date is tomorrow," he says, every syllable clipped.

"Ah. Just barely missing the day. Sorry to hear it."

Tai doesn't respond, only playing the next card from the top of his shrinking pile: the seven of diamonds. Jasper places his down too: four of clubs.

"You've won this one," he says, trying to sound encouraging.

It doesn't work.

"Yes, I've claimed your four. How helpful.
Surely the tides are now turning for me," Tai says caustically, eyes hardened.

Jasper tries not to sigh aloud. Why did he have to come here and now, of all places and times?

Ever since the sage of the Untaught Woods first eased him back into Beledon, he'd spent the early autumn becoming all-too-acquainted with its uniquely chaotic methods of problem-solving. Instead of letting Jasper choose when he comes to their world by reinstating the power of the bell, his appearances and disappearances now happen at complete random.

After seeing Giada tow Jasper forward in the ruins of the citadel, the sage had said, "Well, my work here is done. Before I leave, though, here are some parting words of wisdom, since I'm feeling generous: the best way to start a quest is with a good nap, always carry a feather from your enemy in your sun cap, pair pomegranate salads with arugula, and go through the fox door when the shadows grow long. See you all at the wedding!"

Before anyone could say anything, it vanished from sight.

Jasper had blinked at the empty space where the odd stranger had been, then summarily pushed it out of his mind as he turned to the gathered group of his friends.

Taking a step forward, about to say, "I'm so glad to see you all," he'd been shocked to find that that one step brought him back to his room at Cadeus Falls. It left him standing still for long minutes, struggling to come to terms with whatever just happened.

And so began a frustrated series of sudden ins and outs into Beledon.

On the first week of September, Jasper dashed through the streets of his town, so nearly late for arriving at his office that his heart pounded hard, as if to a drum's punishing beat. His feet landed against the cobblestones, step after step, until they didn't land on a path at all.

In a sliver of a second, he'd gone from running through his town to making his way through a field of faded green grass. The morning sky was silver-gray above him, and the field was met on its far side by a line of trees, whose leaves were copper-colored in the way of early autumn. Jasper's momentum carried him forward even as his mind staggered at the change in scenery. Before he could halt his feet, though, his surroundings returned to the familiar paths of Cadeus Falls.

Jasper continued weaving his way to work, hoping that no one in the streets had taken note of his abrupt vanishing and reemergence.

Another, idler morning saw him joyously reunited with Araceli at her bakery. He'd been pacing his bedroom late in the month when the cold, comfortless air was replaced with warmth, clouds of flour, and a familiar head of springing curls.

"Jasper!" Araceli spotted him in a moment and left her dough preparation to throw her arms around him. "I tried so hard to bring you back," she said, voice muffled by his shoulder and the force of her own grin.

He even stumbled into the world once in the depth of evening. He'd had a blanket thrown over his shoulders, his sleep clothes on, and a freshly warmed bowl of porridge in his hands for a late meal before bed. As he shuffled sleepily across his room, the smoothness of the wooden slats was traded for the cool damp of a forest floor.

Jasper had turned all the way around to take in the trees he'd become surrounded by, each strung with the lights of traveling fireflies. From somewhere far away, the sound of wind chimes drifted to his ear. Shrugging, Jasper found a protruding tree root to sit on and spooned porridge into his mouth while the fireflies danced to the sound of the chimes.

He would place all these experiences above the current one: dropped into Tai's home and forced to entertain someone determined to stay sullen.

Still uncaring, Tai places his next card down, where the king of hearts stands out in glossy relief. Jasper isn't too optimistic about his chances for this round; few can beat a king.

But with the playing of his own card, he straightens up. "The jester," he says excitedly. "I win."

Tai scowls. He might not be very invested in this game, but he won't let Jasper get away with his mistake. "That isn't the jester, that's the jack."

"No, it's the jester. I'm sure of it." Jasper scans the black-and-red face of the card once more, just to be certain.

"You're wrong, then."

"You don't even have playing cards in your world. These are mine, from my own town, so how would you know?"

Tai opens his mouth to reply, but stops at the surprised look on Jasper's face, eyes trained on something behind him. A voice close to his ear makes his shoulders stiffen.

"That's definitely the jester, Taihei. Don't be so stubborn at a loss."

Tai's head turns. Skander stands at his shoulder, bright-eyed and beaming. Tai's answering smile is so wide and incredulous as he rushes out of his chair that Jasper barely recognizes him. His remaining cards scatter in his wake, game similarly far-flung from his mind.

"You're back," he says in clear elation, arms slipping around Skander to pull him close.

Skander laughs. He's still in his riding cloak, having rushed back to the city as quick as he conceivably could. He hooks one arm around Tai's neck and keeps the other hand curled in his lapel. "I wanted to surprise you," he says.

Puzzle rouses himself from a nap under the table. After a lengthy stretch, he comes close enough to push his head against their legs, insistent on receiving some affection of his own. Tai's hands leave Skander's waist long enough to pick up the cat, who purrs in contentment at the indulgence.

Skander scratches along Puzzle's neck and between his ears, cooing when the cat's eyes scrunch closed in satisfaction. Amid his soft murmuring at him, he hears Tai clear his throat. Skander looks up. He blinks in confusion at Tai's expectant look before his face clears with a smile.

"Don't worry, I didn't forget about you just because the cat showed up," he says. He brushes a light kiss against Tai's cheek, right above where his stubble starts. "Happy birthday," he says.

"I miss when I didn't know about this," Lionel says, reluctantly hovering near the room's entrance. Skander had dragged him along. He gestures toward where Tai and Skander stand looking at each other, Tai downwards with a soft smile and Skander upwards with a bright grin.

"Feel free to leave, then," Tai tells him, not even glancing his way. Then he says, "How is your mother, Iskander? And how did you get in so easily?"

"Our mother's doing much better, but for some reason was happy to hear that Skander's now courting you." Lionel sounds put-out by this. He had wanted someone to share in his outrage. "And your father was happy to let us in."

"I think he may prefer you to me," Tai says to Skander, the edges of a joking inflection sneaking in. He can't remember the last time his mood felt so light.

"That's sadly true for you," Skander replies. His eyes finally dart away from Tai and toward Jasper, who's spent this time rearranging the deck. His expression lights up. "It's good to see you, Jasper," he says to his friend.

Jasper stands to make a reply, then sighs when the movement whisks him right back to his room in Cadeus Falls.

He really misses his bell.

-

Again? Jasper wonders.

He'd been tugging off his boots after a long day of work, removing the detritus that clung to his shoes from the leaf-strewn streets. Right when he'd been on his way to place them in the corner of his room for the night, his steps take him out of Cadeus Falls and back into Beledon; the first such occasion of him being brought there twice in one day.

Jasper stands in a long hallway with his shoes still dangling limply from his hand. There must be open windows somewhere nearby; the air is misty and cool where it moves through his hair and over his skin. In front of him is a pair of ornate double doors. So not only has he been brought back to Beledon, but this looks like it might be Tai's home again.

Sure enough, the doors open to reveal the man in question, somehow looking even more irritable than usual. He wears a well-tailored coat over a dark silk tunic, characteristically elegant, but his expression is thunderous. Behind him, the gold glow of candles spills light onto the hall's darkened floor, the sounds of laughter and loud conversation carry outward, and the rich, smoky aroma of a fireplace heats the night.

When Tai sees him, his frustration flares, then falters, and finally fades. "Of course you're here too," he says, defeated. "And shoeless, of all things."

"I actually do have shoes; they're right here." Jasper lifts them in demonstration. Tai recoils as if they could cut in close proximity.

"Who else is here?" Jasper asks. The voices overlapping each other inside the room all sound familiar.

Tai sighs. "I made the mistake of telling Skander I wanted him to stay for dinner. Lionel heard and left to tell Zahara about it. Zahara mentioned it to Dalmar, Dalmar told Araceli, Araceli came to Kalila, then Kalila told Marikit, who told Hilo, who spoke about it with Edeline, who must have said something to Fallon, who told Giada, who told Rian, who mentioned it to Viveka, who ran to Nakoma. And now you've shown up. So there are fifteen people who have invited themselves into my home tonight when I only wanted one."

Tai can't even articulate the extent of his frustration at this turn of events. Before this, he'd spent the afternoon with Skander on a long walk together in his family's gardens. Even as they took crackling steps over dead leaves, Tai had felt brand new.

When they had returned indoors to where Lionel played with Puzzle, he had mentioned that Skander should stay for the evening. Upon hearing that, Lionel had a look of fierce determination cross his face as he rushed out, but Tai had made no note of it. Who cared what Lionel did? Nothing mattered but this: it was autumn, and he was in love.

Well, apparently Lionel could do a lot of damage.

Jasper stays quiet for a long moment.

"It does sound fun in there," he ventures.

Tai scrutinizes him before letting out another sigh and holding the door open. "Come in, then, since everyone else is already cluttering up the space. But I've told them this, and I'll tell you too: by nine o'clock I expect you to be out of my house."

-

At half past ten, Tai plays another card game, this time against Lionel.

Outside, the stars form small pinpricks of light against the sable backdrop of the sky, but inside, no one cares enough to even look out the window. The stakes of the game are too high. If Tai wins, Lionel and everyone else (save Skander) must leave. If he loses, they can do as they please.

Throughout the room are trays of dried fruit and pastries, offerings left by the workers within the Kato family household. The space is a sea of deep green: everything from the curtains to the cushions is the rich hue of pine needles. One exception to this rule of color is the polished gold of the candlesticks, where the wax now burns low.

Tai and Lionel are each bent over the table in concentration, studying the fan of cards in their respective holds. Skander observes from the sidelines.

Giada takes a leisurely sip of water from a cut-crystal glass. "Who are you rooting for, Skander?" she asks.

"Me," Tai and Lionel answer in unison. Their heads snap up to regard each other.

"He's standing closer to my side," Tai reasons.

"So? Maybe it's just to see your cards better so that he can signal them to me," Lionel says. At Tai's skeptical expression, he insists: "I'm his only brother in the world."

"He's your brother every day of the year. Today is my birthday; of course he wants me to win."

Giada rolls her eyes. "I'll ask again: Who are you rooting for, Skander?" 

"Neither, they're both awful. When they're done disgracing the game, you and I should play," Skander says, arms crossed casually as both his brother and his Tai give him shocked looks.

Lionel's warm brown eyes are stung with betrayal. "Skander!"

"Now I'm just going to take longer on purpose," says Tai.

When Lionel reveals a winning hand a full half-hour later, he jumps up in excitement. "I'm moving in!"

Tai narrows his eyes at him. "Those weren't the terms."

Dalmar looks thoughtful at Lionel's outburst. "It is getting late, though," he says. "And some of us have far to go to get home. Maybe we should all spend the night here."

Tai's expression at that suggestion is nothing short of horrified.

"I don't have space for all of you," he says swiftly, hoping the sharpness of his words will put a quick end to the idea.

Skander gives him a disbelieving look from where he's propped his elbow on Tai's shoulder. "Yes, you do. Your bed alone is big enough for four people."

Lionel makes a face. "Please don't talk about Tai's bed," he says.

Dalmar refuses to be taken in by a diversion. "We all know you have space, Tai. If the Taymons leave now, they won't get home until well past midnight. And it's October, so the way will be cold," he says.

"If you all insist on being such inconveniences, then fine. Lay yourselves out wherever; I really don't care. I'll allow it this one time and no other." Tai pauses, then says, "Iskander and I can share my room. I wouldn't mind."

"Thank you for your sacrifice," Lionel says, aiming for sarcastic but unaccustomed to the tone. He's someone too used to speaking genuinely, whole-hearted in every interaction with anyone besides Tai.

"Well, as long as we're staying..." Jasper begins dealing out another hand of cards to anyone interested, then continues:

"Let's play again."

-

The midnight hour waits patiently for the clocks to catch up. The room is still full, still warm, and (to Tai's chagrin) still loud, but there are some who take no note of the noise.

"Where did Giada go?" Edeline asks her brothers.

"She's asleep on the floor," Rian says.

Giada, curled up on the green softness of a cushion and hanging onto consciousness by a singular thread, says blearily, "No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are," Rian tells her.

Giada would answer if she were still awake.

A surge of unfamiliar laughter has Rian turning his head around to locate the source. It's Tai, who's enjoying the last few minutes of his birthday side by side and hand in hand with Skander, intertwined so that each finger presses against its match on the other's hand.

Skander is doing an impression of one of the river wardens he and Tai had met on their trip to the chimera's world. He raises and lowers the cadence of his voice, mimicking the movement of restless water, adding a hiss here and a rush there. The resemblance is so uncanny that Tai's begun laughing outright, and Zahara— who had been the one to request the story of their experience— is beaming in sheer delight, Puzzle curled up in her lap with a feline grin.

Rian tries to find a place for himself in this crowded room, but it's never been his strong suit. Usually he latches onto the first familiar face he sees and hovers by their side for as long as he can.

He considers proposing a game of chess to his usual opponent Kalila, but she's preoccupied with teaching the game to Araceli. The latter doesn't seem to be following along very well.

Kalila's expression glints in focus as she scans the black-and-white surface of the checkered board, unconsciously raising a hand to pull a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Araceli's eyes leave the game to follow the movement. When Kalila poses a question to her, she has to ask for it to be repeated.

Rian is broken out of his observations by a new voice and a nudge on the arm: "Have you ever done one of these?"

Disoriented, he looks down.

The person addressing him is familiar, but they've hardly spoken on their own before. Her name is Nakoma, he remembers, and she works as an alchemist at the university. The brilliant shine of her black-brown hair flows with every motion of her head. In her hands is a puzzle box carved from wood.

"Where did you get that?" Rian asks. He's uneasy to find that Fallon and Edeline have disappeared from his side. He doesn't have much faith in his conversational skills without his siblings there to supplement them.

Nakoma shrugs, the movement disturbing the river-fall of her hair. "In the study, a few doors down."

Rian frowns. "Did Tai say we could go in there?"

"He didn't say we couldn't."

That isn't very reassuring, he thinks. What he says out loud is, "No, I haven't tried one before."

"Then this'll be a good place to start," she says. "It doesn't look too hard."

Rian doesn't think he can agree with that. The surface of the box is covered with symbols, resembling no alphabet he's familiar with.

Without any preamble, Nakoma's fingers fly forward. She presses on a series of the marks, then slides the outer layer of the box away when it clicks free, revealing the next puzzle.

Rian, who had been about to examine each symbol one by one, doesn't know what to make of this. "How did you do that?" he asks her.

Nakoma looks pleased at his awe. "They're alchemical symbols. I see them every day."

"You identified them so quickly."

"I didn't read them at all, actually." At his evident confusion, she shows him the layer of the box she had successfully pulled away. "See here, how some of the symbols are worn down? They must have been pressed multiple times, so I guessed that they were part of the solution. People like to see how quickly they can solve puzzle boxes again once they've managed it the first time. And I noticed that the worn symbols formed a spiral all together, so I just followed the shape from the outside in."

He looks at her. Before, his shoulders had been stiff, and his tongue had felt awkward and uncertain. In his wonder, both loosen. He doesn't dive headfirst into bright ideas like that. It isn't in his nature.

When Fallon and Edeline find him a long while later, they're surprised to see him sitting in a corner with Nakoma, both still bent over the box. They pass it between themselves, tackling the puzzles posed by each subsequent layer, eager to see what the final one will be.

Rian goes slowly, relying on steady patience and thought-out method.

Nakoma charges forward, looking for sideways solutions and sparks of ingenuity.

The box is handed back and forth, his then hers, and all the while the room's grand clock ticks as if in imitation of their minds at work.

-

Not a bad birthday, Tai thinks, late that night with his face tucked into the crook of Skander's neck, both warmed by the abundance of soft furs atop his bed. All things considered.

Author's Note: I am once again reiterating that I have no idea how this chapter became so long while simultaneously devoid of almost any plot. Oh well, that's The Chimera for you.

Title is a slight play on one of my favorite lines from The Lord of the Rings: September came in with golden days and silver nights.

(yes, I know: a fantasy writer who loves LOTR? How original)