"Somewhat receded," said James with a big sigh. "We think that James and I might end up being interviewed, complete with a camera crew to look at our rooms, but we haven't decided yet.There's a few other people that are also reluctant volunteers, but the Fathers think we're the two most well-known at this time."
"Dispel the mystery, but give up some personal privacy," said Alex with a nod. "It's a hard balance to strike."
"We're considering it," said James. "Any advice?"
Julian and Alex had done a very small amount of press when they'd moved into their house and take up the mantle of Guardianship, mostly because the Queen made them. There had been an architecture magazine spread about the cottage itself, and a couple of other interviews about their lives in which they'd made every effort to sound as bland as possible.
"We weren't great at it," said Alex. "We went with boring nerds as our persona. I talked about making some charm in unnecessary detail, and Julian talked about his plants the same way.
"Being boring is really the goal," said James. "So unnecessary detail about things like weapons maintenance?"
"And Jacques can talk about cooking; he's good at geeking out about ingredients and stuff," said Julian. "You've got another hobby, I'm sure."
"Mostly reading while eating his cooking," James joked. "I do more of the weapons maintenance, too, though he does his share. I find it meditative."
"What parts of your lives would people think of as exciting?" Alex wondered aloud.
"I have no idea," said James. "There's a tiny bit of action in any given assignment, and not even that all the time. We didn't have to do anything to keep you two alive."
"This time," said Alex wryly. "Maybe Raj and Roger have an idea of what topics to avoid? They're new and they were big Guardian fanboys even before."
"Oh, good idea," said James. "They're doing well as trainees, anyway. Still mischievous but not in a bad way."
Father Stephen emerged from the back next, and changed into his normal robes with a sense of great peace about him. He and James talked a little bit about the other trainees, no one Alex really knew, only half a dozen in the newest cohort. Being a Guardian was a lifelong commitment, and there wasn't too much need to grow their ranks, so they only took those who were enthusiastic about the calling, or so they explained.
Alex liked the idea of Raj and Roger growing up to Guard people one day, given how excited they'd been to meet James and Jacques.
Julian emerged and Alex busied himself getting Julian bundled up, though the cold didn't bother him as much as it used to. He, too, felt peaceful and sweet to Alex through their bond, and Alex was glad they'd made time both to see their friend and get purified.
"Have you had any other incursions on the Way?" asked Father Stephen, once they'd all grouped into four to await Jacques.
"No, other than the troublesome squirrel we already told you about, there hasn't been anything since the false murder," said Alex. "Which I for one am very happy about."
"It's light work, the Guarding," said Julian, "but still important. Being the Charmer seems almost as important now that Alex is back in business."
"It's true," said Alex. "I'd honestly no idea there was so much of a market out there for bespoke charms among the rich, and even not so rich. I charge according to what's needed and what the person can give, so I do take the occasional normal person or lower fae."
"I get more of the lower fae," said Julian. "They like the potent plants."
"You also have a thriving business in magical ingredients, when you want to," said Alex with a chuckle. "He was having trouble finding time and land for a Mastery project, but now that it's winter there's more free time."
"I still like the idea of a commons," said Julian, "but I'm not sure there's any land going spare in a location that's useful to normal people. No one needs a park in the middle of nowhere."
"And so we keep circling around ideas," said Alex. "The community garden was doing well last we checked, and he'll go make sure everything's growing well in spring."
"It's not a resource if nothing comes back from winter," said Julian with a shrug.
"That's very kind of you," said Father Stephen. "The ongoing maintenance of your projects is part of what makes them so special, I think."
"Which means we get to see the luck garden," said Alex.
"Yay," said Julian happily. "Horace will be sad he missed it, he's off visiting Emmy, though he might be home by now."
"He'd have come and found us if he was done," said Alex. "He can always find the two of us, but Emmy's made friends with him so he's probably waiting for a return letter."
"He's very easy to like," said James with a smile. "And useful for a lot of things besides just letters."
"He does wishes for us sometimes, too," said Alex, "but in winter the trees don't need it as much."
