It had been a long Friday. Deck thought things would slow down now that the Season was over, but some of the academics had gotten their prints to the shop towards the beginning of their respective school years, and academic print jobs were long. At the end of the job, he found himself sitting down next to the printing press, leaning back against it. He should get up, go home, and lock up the shop — but he wasn't in any particular rush, because he was exhausted.

He was still in this spot, trying to find the will to walk home, when Sage appeared. Declan smiled gently at her. "Thanks," he said, staying in his spot. He took a sip of the wine she'd brought. "You didn't have to."