"Ahh, get it out of my hair!" Swipe shrieked, batting at the fuzzy demon that had tried to perch amid she's blue tangle.

"Relax, Liberty won't hurt you," drawled Broth, who was lounging beside Swipe on our couch. Swipe was a dinner guest to our home, along with Punnt and Scaff. I'd been quite used to entertaining visitors on a monthly basis back in Forrester's Crossing, but had hardly had any since joining the hive. It was fun to cook for a few extra people for a change, though this was still far fewer than had once been typical. Even so, the presence of guests in my new home was stirring up a lot of memories. Cooking on a stove that heated pans through magical means instead of concentrated sunlight was something I'd never fully grown used to, but it was exceedingly convenient.

"I'm not worried about being hurt. I simply don't want to look like I stood in front of a ventilation fan," Swipe said, trying to grab at the little demon again.

"You should've worn a hat," Punnt said simply from the furthest corner of the couch.

"A hat, indoors?" said Scaff, shocked at the suggestion. Jur was practically sitting in Punnt's lap, due to Broth taking up an unnecessarily large share of the lounge space.

I turned back from watching the four on the couch and addressed Skids, who was doing most of the actual work of cooking. Skids was much better at following directions and not adding experimentally large amounts of spices than other people I could name. "I believe we can call that done. Serve Slink's portion first and I'll take that to sheem while you dish up the rest."

Skids chose one of the fried, battered fish fillets and transferred it to a plate using metal tongs. "Are you sure—"

"I can carry one plate. I can manage that much and I'll be careful," I said, hoping that was enough to reassure sarm.

"Will you, Drift? You've proven quite solidly that you can't be careful," Skid said as sa added a selection of steamed vegetables to Slink's plate.

"That was weeks ago! I've been very careful ever since!"

Skids finished up the serving with a heavy squirt of the seafood sauce Slink liked. "You haven't been allowed on the field in all that time."

"Well it's a good thing Slink's room isn't on the field then," I said, gently lifting the plate in a way that minimised the pressure on my mostly-healed wrist.

"Fine, you win," Skids said to my back.

I tapped gently on Slink's door with my foot. This time Slink was anticipating my arrival, so she immediately noticed and opened the door to me. I set the plate gently on she's desk. "The fish should be cool enough to eat in a minute," I said, taking equal care to enunciate clearly. "It's best eaten warm. The vegetables too. Do you have enough to drink?"

"Yes, I have bottled water," Slink said as she sat back down behind she's desk. "Drift, what would you say is the friendliest colour?"

"Hmm?" I wasn't prepared for that question. Not at all. "Perhaps a light sky blue. Or the rich yellow-orange of clouds at dawn. Maybe a fresh grassy green?"

"You would say that," Slink declared, looking up at me with eyes I felt were judging me.

I tried to remind myself that Slink didn't mean it personally and hoped I didn't look too obviously insulted. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm considering obtaining a dress." She popped a baby carrot in she's mouth and quickly chewed it.

"Ah. Yeah, they seem to have caught on. Hey, are you sure you don't want to come with the team and meet the Titans? It's no trouble."

Slink swallowed and nodded in approval. "Cooked to perfection. I have already met the Titans. My work is more important than seeing them again."

I tried not to stare as she calmly speared another mouthful of vegetables with she's fork. "You have? Why didn't you mention that before?"

"Most people don't like talking about the Titans."

"But Skids is one of them," I protested, managing not to raise my voice this time.

"I told Skids."

"But... What did... I..."

"I expect your own meal will be growing cold."

"Oh. Right. Are you sure you'll be fine here while we're gone?"

"I'll be fine." Slink didn't often sound annoyed, but this was one of those times.

"Of course. Sorry. Call if you need anything." I left and slowly pulled the door closed behind me.

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My plate was waiting at an empty seat at the table between Skids to the right and Swipe to the left. My teammates had started eating without me. I didn't begrudge them that. Much. We engaged in small talk about friends, colleagues, and other chroma teams until we were mostly done and Punnt had gone back for seconds.

As was often the case, Swipe changed the topic to important matters. "Has everyone finished their packing?"

"Almost," Scaff said immediately.

"That means jur's barely started," Punnt shot back just as fast.

"How'd you know?" Skids asked.

"Scaff always puts off finishing things like this and claims to be 'almost done'."

"I am almost done! I just need to—"

"—find half the things you plan to take and figure out how to fit only two thirds of them into your luggage," Punnt interrupted.

"Scaff's not the only one like that. From what I've seen every time I go in or out of my room, that's a remarkably accurate description of Broth's progress," Skids said, nodding in solidarity.

Broth and Scaff produced a harmony of indignant sounds.

I took a moment to adjust my eypatch so it sat comfortably.

"What about the rest of you?" Swipe asked.

"I'm all packed up," Skids said. "Except for the typical handful of things I'll need before we leave. But I've tested that everything fits in my backpack fine."

"Same," Punnt said, and bit into the final fish fillet.

"Drift?"

"Er, are you sure there's not some way I can take the raidsuit?"

Beside me, Skids groaned.

"We've been over this," Swipe said with gentle patience. "The Titans are extremely mighty, and our armour would not be a significant impediment against any hostilities. It would only offend them. Bringing it is a waste of space."

"But I can move faster and carry more—"

"We'll be on spinnerbikes," Skids interrupted. "If you tried to keep up in the raidsuit you'd probably trip over. And it's inefficient and uncomfortable."

"After everything you've told me about being careful, you want me to get on a spinnerbike with you," I stated flatly, showing off my most unimpressed frown.

"Of course, because I'll be the one controlling it. You couldn't be safer, even if you walked the whole way. You'd probably step on a dangerope."

"Enough arguing. Are you packed, Drift?" Swipe asked again.

I fidgeted with my hair as I stalled to think through my answer. "Er, I can't quite decide what I want to wear."

"Blue or purple both look fine on you. Darker is better, I think," Skids said, trying and failing to be helpful.

"I mean, I'm not sure if I want to go in hexmage fashion, or something a bit more... sunny," I said, uncertain of how to say what I was thinking.

Skids responded with a compassionate look. "I get where you're coming from, but we're not going to be travelling during the day. Or near any mage cities. You're not going to see anyone who'll recognise you. So you might as well go as outrageously hex-style as you can. That might impress the Titans a little. If they even can be impressed."

"Please make sure you finish packing before you sleep, and don't be up too late either," Swipe instructed. "That goes for Broth and Scaff too. Now, I think it would be good if we're all clear on our intentions. What does everyone plan on getting out of this trip? I'd like to learn something of use about the Titans and their technology, though I won't give up anything significant in return. I'm mostly going because I'm curious and want to keep the rest of yall out of trouble."

"I want to learn who my family are," Skids said, sounding unusually distant. "And who I am. Being a drone and a caster have been interesting, but..." Sa paused to collect sa's thoughts. "I have to admit neither really fits who I am. And yes I know that must sound weird since I don't have any idea who I am. But I don't think it's this. Not that there's anything wrong with this, but..." Another pause. " I think there's something better out there for me, you know?"

The others nodded awkwardly, not really understanding. Punnt and Scaff exchanged glances and shrugged.

"Yeah," I said, more enthusiastically than I expected. "Learning hexmagery has been great. Really great. I could do this for years. But I'm not so sure about being a hexmage. If that makes sense. It might not, since that's just how people are down here." I hadn't consciously realised I felt that way until I'd heard Skids' explanation. "I know I'm a young woman, but I don't feel like one living down here. No one here understands what that means. So, uh... I don't know. I don't know what I'll find with the Titans. I don't know if or when I'll come back here. Maybe I'll decide to come right back with the rest of you. I might not. It depends on what I need to do to get a new arm and eye. Those are the priorities, of course." I fidgeted with my eyepatch again.

"Is this about the Ginnn situation?" Swipe asked, with a poor attempt at tact.

"No!" Skids patted me on the shoulder and I made myself reign in my misdirected annoyance. "Yes I'm upset that he got away with using my own work against me to help our opponents. Yes I think awarding me early completion of basic hexmage training was a meaningless gesture, no, a slap in the face as an 'apology' since I'm already far ahead of that point on my own merits. And yes, I'm frustrated that no one's allowed to use my Hexplexer until the Think Tank spends an untold number of months analysing its safety, security and societal impact. But I can work through that. Those are just obstacles. No, the problem is that I don't really feel like myself. I think that's why I was struggling with the question of clothes. Hexing is what I do, but I'm not fully comfortable meeting the Titans dressed as if it's what I am."

"So it's not about people continually pestering you about being rescued by the Over Seer?" Punnt asked, with exactly zero tact.

Scaff elbowed dro in the ribs. "Really, Punnt? You still have no idea how to read the room."

"I'd like to find some new plants," Broth said quickly. "Maybe the Titans have some fitness tips other than sticking metal inside people."

"I'm just coming to keep you lot out of trouble, and to see something new," Punnt said, glaring at Scaff.

"And I'll be trying to keep you out of trouble. And checking out the architecture," Scaff said. "Maybe I can pick up some original New Year gifts for well-deserving childhood friends. Because I'm definitely going to be back here in time for New Year."

"Same," Punnt echoed.

"Yeah," Broth agreed.

"That's the plan," Swipe said, nodding. "Now I think we should go over the itinerary again, but first I heard a rumour about some sort of pudding with berries in it."

Skids stood and made directly for the kitchen. "Someone's been telling tales. But in this case they're true tales. Broth, care to help me dish this out? Or you can stay seated and tell our guests the tale of last week's pudding, if you like," sa said, sounding very dangerous by the end.

"Sure, sure, I can help," Broth spluttered, hurrying after Skids.

The rest of us stared at each other for three whole seconds before breaking down in laughter.