"I'm pleased to see you've all made it back in one piece, Equinox," came the smooth, silky voice of the Don.

We were back in his plush office, surrounded by symbols of success and comfort, yet even his reassuring words weren't enough to lift me out of the dull mood I'd found myself in.

The room was as fancy and well kept as it had been during my last visit, but I felt as though my mood was forcing me to see it in a worse light. The huge, dark windows behind the Don's desk looked more imposing than before. The cloudy weather had stopped the sun from bathing the land in its warmth, leaving the room without the touch of colour that had made it seem so much fuller last time.

The floating screens hanging in the air around the entrance were the same as always, showcasing many locations throughout the city to the Don's auburn eyes.

Fountains, casinos, a prison. All of them, I noted, had dark skies obscured by clouds. My awareness shot from screen to screen, searching for a ray of sunshine. Light. On one of the screens, a large, clunky looking Bird carrying a thick bag with a strap around its body glided around buildings, swerving through the city. Despite its size, the Mailbird moved with such contemptible ease that I found myself growing envious. Envious of a Bird like that. It was a silly, temporary, irrational feeling. I had better things to be focusing on, yet that was where my mind seemed determined to take me.

My teammates were with me. The four plush purple chairs we'd used during our first visit had returned, lined up in front of the Don with my body perched just behind them, legs folded beneath me. After a few moments of silence, I felt a conflicting sensation. While part of me wanted to speak and conduct the meeting to get it over with, another part of me, a larger part, didn't want to say a word. It wasn't because I was reluctant to give a report, nor because I feared what the Don might say or do.

Instead, I was worried about what would come after this meeting. Sigura had been quiet on the way back to the base, but I knew she wouldn't let this drop. She was going to bring up the man who I'd let escape.

"[Thank you, Don Giovanni,]" I replied, my voice even and professional. If nothing else, I was glad that my heart hadn't betrayed me through my words. "[We're glad to be back.]"

I valued the Don's time and willingness to meet with us in person, but... no. I shouldn't try to prolong the meeting just to run from Sigura. Not only was it disrespectful to the Don, but... eh... It had to be done. I'd been the one to preach to Sigura that she'd needed to apologise and seal the rift she'd created with Toya, and I wouldn't be setting a good example as leader if I didn't follow suit and do the same.

The Don reached forward with a firm hand, hoisting a white teacup with green rings along the bottom and around the rim. He took a sip of the warm brown liquid within, savoring the taste before relieving it from duty.

"What have you got to report?" he asked, looking from Sigura to me as the teacup gently touched back down onto its purple checkered coaster. "Was the mission a success?"

He sat behind the desk looking like the picture of professionalism. He wore an even, professional smile, a perfectly ironed purple suit, and his slicked back jet black hair with ease. He looked both relaxed yet poised, carrying himself with ease, as though appearing simultaneously casual and presentable was his natural state of being.

"[It was, Don,]" I replied. "[We experienced a few hiccups during the mission, but we completed our objective without fail.]"

'Hiccups'. Was that the right word to use? I should have said 'complications'. Or was that too aggressive sounding? I didn't want to come across as too casual, but I didn't want to imply we made egregious mistakes or had issues, either.

I hoped that I was conducting myself properly. We hadn't yet told him about our leadership situation, but I was praying to any Gods that would listen that the way of speaking I'd copied both from my parents and competent commanders and underlings I'd seen in comics would be enough to at least make it sound like I knew what I was doing.

"Hiccups?" he asked, raising a jet black eyebrow.

"[We left some traces of our magic at the scene,]" I informed him. "[Namely Moonshine's bodily matter and some of Yakamoz's deceased Familiars. We were... exhausted after the battle, and didn't want to risk entering the building and blowing our cover. But... but our group's pair of moles escaped quickly and without issue.]"

"Ah, Firecracker and Sparks," the Don replied with a smile after glancing between Toya and Fareel. "They know their way around the community. I'm pleased to hear they didn't get caught in the act. That would've been an unfortunate turn of events for everyone, I'm sure."

"[We encountered many Casters with abilities that we didn't know anything about,]" I continued, hoping I wasn't stepping out of line. "[If we were given an opportunity to be briefed on the potential threats during the operation, we may have been able to handle things with a... greater level of efficiency.]"

Above all else, I didn't want to end up getting my teammates or I harmed because of a lack of intel or miscommunication on a future mission.

The Don nodded, taking another sip of his tea.

"I understand, Homebound. However, I wanted to see how your team would respond in the event that something went wrong," he smoothly continued, even if the words caused Toya to cringe. "I was confident you'd make it out, given your superior abilities and awareness, but if you were met with setbacks and gained Experience in the meantime, that would have only served you well. I would be a terrible leader if I were to fault you for making any mistakes that were well within my expectations. Still, although I knew of some likely participants at the meeting, such as regulars of the community, there was no way to inform you of all the details prior to the mission regardless."

Relief washed over my form, causing the pink grooves and valleys of my body to relax, losing some of the tension they'd been holding in since the walk home. The mission was a test, in a sense. If the mistakes we'd made were simply part of the Don's expectations, and not a fatal error on my part... that was a weight off of my shoulders. He hadn't commented on us leaving behind 'evidence' as a horrible mistake, and so I took it to be a lighter problem, or perhaps not even a problem at all.

"In missions of greater importance, you have my word that I'll provide detailed and specific intel," the Don assured us.

"[Thank you, Don Giovanni. Some of the enemies escaped before I had intended because of those abilities, but it wasn't too much for us to handle. The plan worked well.]"

The Don smiled, sneaking glances at each of our members in turn before looking back towards me.

"Do you have anything else to report, Equinox?"

This was as good an opportunity as any.

"[Ah... I'd like to say, on behalf of our t-team, that I was recently appointed as the official leader of Equinox, Don,]" I told him, hoping that the stutter that had felt terrible in my head hadn't sounded quite as awful to him.

A flicker of surprise flashed over the Don's eyes. He briefly glanced at Sigura's serious expression and crossed arms before turning back towards my mech.

"Is that so? How surprising. In that case, I look forward to seeing how you perform and lead your team, Homebound."

"There's something else, too," Sigura cut in. It was only now that I noticed the quiet, persistent tapping of her sandal against the hardwood floor. "Homebound didn't bring it up before because it wasn't integral to the mission or anything, but we saw a Caster at the meeting carryin' a box of Boost."

"Is that so?" the Don asked, his expression fractionally creasing as he looked back towards Sigura. "Can you elaborate?"

"Homebound said he had metal skin and a murky glass ball around his head," Sigura said, glancing down at the Cat Adept next to the Don, who's eyes had been locked onto her ever since she'd started speaking. I got the impression he hadn't taken kindly to Sigura cutting into our conversation as abruptly as she had. "He had some sort of sensory or precognitive ability, and tattoos that peeled off and became miniature planets that orbited him."

At the seat farthest from Sigura, Fareel looked up, coughing heavily into his fist. Sigura's eyes widened, face curling into a grimace. Still, she caught the message.

"Right, right. He had a tattoo on his neck, too. A silver ring with a golden dot in the center. You got any idea who he is?"

Whoever they were, the glass-headed man wasn't alone. On the way back, we'd managed to get some information out of Fareel through a series of questions and gestures. A game of charades that didn't communicate as clearly as he would have liked, which had left him annoyed. He'd met people with that same symbol, and he'd met them here, in this city. He'd confirmed Sigura's fears, too.

They were working closely with the use and distribution of Boost.

"He's a Caster working from another territory," the Don responded vaguely. "I didn't expect to hear about foreign criminals infiltrating the area. Big Tooth has done an even worse job at building a reputation prior to now than I feared. Thank you for the information Sunburst, Yakamoz. It's regrettable that the enemy escaped, but I'll be able to plan accordingly with this in mind."

"We might've been able to catch him," Sigura said dryly, throwing a glance my way. "But Homebound made the decision to protect a few angry civilians refusing to listen to her warnings while she was chasing him."

"[I was forced to choose between catching him and the lives of innocents,]" I interjected coldly, cutting her off like she had done to me earlier in the meeting. "[While catching him for intel would have been valuable, I don't believe I made the wrong decision. It was a heat of the moment choice, but protecting the lives of civilians, however forcefully, would serve our reputations more than catching a single criminal. If I was in the same situation, I would do the same now.]"

The Don's smile widened at that, and the nod of approval he gave made me feel a certain level of spiteful reassurance that I had made the right decision when Sigura wouldn't have.

"The people of Scander do love a protector who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty following what they believe in, after all," he commented, lifting his cup once again. "I don't doubt you made the right decision given the circumstances, Homebound."

He took another sip, holding the cup close to his mouth as the steam rose up to meet his nose, surely carrying the scent I couldn't perceive up with it.

"You've done an excellent job, Equinox. While it is unfortunate that some potential evidence was left at the scene, it's an acceptable mistake. I will ensure that your team is rewarded shortly."

Then, Streiphen raised his hand. The eyes of the Cat Adept snapped towards him, but the Don only looked curious.

"Do you have something to add, Stardust?" the Don asked.

"Umm... actually..." Streiphen stuttered, squirming a little in his seat as he lowered the hand. "I, um... wanted to ask a favour! Miss Y- Miss Homebound... I wanted to ask if you would be able to get her a special Vox that she could use."

I hadn't expected Streiphen to ask here, but the deed was done now.

"[M-maybe we should ask about this another time, Streiphen, we-]"

"Voxes are still a relatively new invention," the Don said, interrupting my private mental attempts to dissuade the Chimera child. "Custom made Voxes designed for unorthodox forms and physiologies aren't cheap. Why should I invest in something like that?"

As harsh as the words came across, I didn't get the impression it was an accusation. Or... maybe that was wishful thinking. It sounded challenging, but not aggressive.

"She, um... Miss Homebound is really smart! If we went on that mission without her plan, it wouldn't have worked so well! If she had a Vox and could learn a lot of other things and get a chance to study stuff, she could make even better plans. That's, um... really good for the organisation, S-sir."

I felt my form turn a light shade of red beneath my bronze helmet. While it was flattering, this was hardly the time for a request like-

"Is that so?" the Don asked idly, swiveling his chair around to look up at the dark window. "I'm inclined to believe you, Stardust. Both Pack Rat and Clever Girl, whom I respect, have brought up Homebound's perceptive and insightful nature. I cannot give you a definitive answer until I've looked into how much such an artefact would cost to produce and acquire, but I give you my word that I'll give it proper consideration."

When his chair turned back around, his smile had returned to normal, eyes fixed on Streiphen.

"Will that be satisfactory?"

Streiphen's worried, squeamish expression evaporated, becoming a beaming smile as his starry eyes gleamed brightly.

"Yes, sir! Thanks! Um... Thank you!"

He hadn't given us a 'yes', but 'proper consideration' meant it at least wasn't a completely unreasonable request. The thought that Streiphen's demeanor could even sway the heart of a crime lord was impressive, but... maybe he'd been planning to offer an artefact or agree to a demand like that from the beginning, as a way of making us more invested and indebted to the group.

I might have been seeing Demons where there weren't any, or being uncharitable without reason, but... Toya was wary. Despite our differences as of late, he was our teammate. If he had his reservations about the Don or his motives, I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. As the team leader, it was my responsibility to ensure his opinions were valued and taken under proper consideration. I wanted to be wary, a feeling that Toya's concerns and perspective had helped to give a definitive voice and form to.

"Is that all, then?" the Don asked.

Unfurling my legs from beneath my form, I responded with a jerky nod of my metallic body. Sigura, with arms crossed, similarly gave the Don a nod.

"Good. In that case, you are dismissed. You will be rewarded shortly for your exemplary work, Equinox," the Don concluded.

Without any further ado, I began to turn around, using the metallic legs of my form to swivel around, leaving through the ornate doors. My teammates followed moments later, rising from their chairs before each giving the Don a nod in turn. It was a tip from Pack Rat, and one I'd reminded the others of before we stepped inside. Bowing had a different meaning here in Scander, even if I hadn't had time to ask about the specifics. Nods were more respectful.

The team followed behind me as I walked down the corridor, passing the waiting room I'd seen the shark-toothed Human in during our first venture. The white lights overhead guided our path, the paintings on either side of us working to serve as a distraction for what was surely going to be a difficult conversation.

I led the charge, heading straight for our room with dread firmly locked into the center of my form. The last time we walked like this as a group through the halls of the Velvet Star, Sigura had exploded and caused a problem that persisted in small ways even now. I didn't want a repeat of that, but I suspected it was-

"We're not just gonna brush that under the rug, y'know?" Sigura said, speeding up a little to walk side by side with me. I pushed over a little to the right, giving her more room to walk without being stuck too close to the wall.

"[You want to talk about the glass-headed man, I know,]" I replied, letting my [Telepathy] out for all of Equinox to hear.

"I didn't want to say it in front of the Don or anythin', but we both know that you made the wrong call," Sigura stated, stuffing both hands into her pockets. "If the Don takes over this territory again, and people mutated from Boost start showin' up, that isn't gonna reflect well on 'im. If you were looking at it from the perspective of 'saving lives', then that wasn't the right call, either. A few ingrate assholes getting crushed by a foreign Caster would serve as an excuse for the Don to unite people against a common enemy, and the damage from someone altered by Boost would be way worse than a few people that didn't listen to warnings in the streets dying would've been."

"[I want to integrate with this community, Sigura. For better or worse, this is our home now. If I let others die in front of me, that wouldn't reflect well on our reputation once our affiliation comes to light. Even if people were angry that I pushed them aside to save them, these people are part of our community, too. If we can sway people like them, we can sway anyone. It was the safest decision to make.]"

"But you compromised your identity, too," Sigura noted with a sigh, her orange eyes glowing with [Insight] as she looked towards me. "You let some guy pull your sheet off. If that little rumour gets around and someone puts the pieces together, that's way worse than leaving 'some evidence' at the scene. If we want a safe place to be and get some money and weight around here, we've gotta be willing to take actual risks, Yur."

We turned a corner, heading down the stairwell to the main foyer. Streiphen and Fareel threw Screen a wave, and the Machina behind the counter waved back.

"I know you wanted to save people, Yur. We accomplished the mission with flyin' colours, and we made sure no civilians got hurt. But that's only in the short term. Someone affected by Godsdamn Boost will be way more harmful to the city than two or three assholes grounded into the pavement," Sigura commented, keeping her eyes ahead and away from distractions as we arrived at the base of the stairs, continuing our journey. "You need to think about the big picture here, alright?"

"[Looking at the 'big picture' isn't necessarily the best way to integrate with a community, Sigura,]" I responded calmly.

It was a lesson that I could speak with confidence, because it was a painful lesson I'd been forced to live through.

It was easy to look at things in the big picture. To say you were doing something questionable in the moment if it meant achieving the results you wanted. The results you needed.

When my family and I had left Lucan, we met so many people on the journey to a new continent. The faces of everyone I had met began to blend together, losing all meaning or significance.

Upon arriving in Addersbrook, I'd felt the same way about the civilians. Everyone's faces and names as they eagerly introduced themselves to new folks seemed pointless. Back then, I'd been thinking about the 'big picture'. I'd only wanted to interact with those that would advance my abilities and prospects.

I thought so hard about why I wasn't able to do that. I couldn't form meaningful connections to anyone beyond work. My parents had no problem with that, but they didn't require those connections in the same way I did. My Human needs were different to theirs. I'd worked to make myself useful to others to establish that deeper connection I craved, but nothing had made it feel any deeper.

It wasn't until Sigura had approached me that I'd actually begun to 'integrate'.

It was something small. Something she took for granted as a resident of a small town with no experiences with the world beyond her home. Still, she was persistent. Pushy. She forced me out of my comfort zone, and it was through that stroke of sheer luck that I realised what was missing. I learned more about her, not just what she could offer me. By getting to know someone and letting them get to know me, it opened a gateway.

Through her, others had an easier time speaking with and accepting me. It led to me meeting her team. Her mother. Her friends. The townsfolk. It allowed me to take the first step on the long road towards acceptance.

My parents had done something similar within the Watch, which had let me know I was doing the right thing, even if I'd let someone else do it for me.

It was a simple lesson, but one I hadn't been able to see for a long time. It was a lesson she had taught me, and one she'd now forgotten.

"Yeah?" she responded, looking up at me with challenging eyes. "Then what is the right way of integrating?"

It was a biting comment, but one I suspected was coming. I knew Sigura for long enough to expect it.

"[Relationships,]" I responded simply.

Sigura rolled her eyes as though I'd given an answer that sounded profound yet had no meaning beyond the surface layer.

"[We need to work on keeping in contact with those we know throughout the city,]" I elaborated. "[Through getting to know the citizens, their words of recommendation and support can make us seem more... approachable. Relatable. Acting on the big picture alone could leave us with an untouchable look. People that help the city, but cannot be approached by those within it. That isn't the sort of reputation that will serve us well in the long term if we want real, genuine support, Sigura.]"

Streiphen's eyes darted between my form and Sigura's, his shoulders tightening as he braced himself for what was surely to come. I was glad to see that he was learning. That he knew to expect it and could prepare himself for it. That would help him in the long run if-

"Fine," Sigura replied with a huff. "You're the team leader, Yur. If that's the direction you wanna take this team, then... whatever. I'll go along with it."

Fareel grinned, wearing a lazy, earnest smile that spread from ear to ear.

Toya let out a sigh that I hoped was one of relief.

Streiphen's expression was easier to understand, a beaming smile that spread over his face. Even if he said nothing, that expression alone was enough to convey how he felt.

I was... relieved.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Peace and quiet.

Once again, both Sigura and Toya were out doing their own thing. Whether it was 'going for a run', or 'going for a walk', or 'I need some time to think', neither of them had a habit of sticking around for long.

Maybe that was a blessing in disguise.

I'd understood that Sigura was going to need a run after a conversation like that, but part of me had been earnestly hoping that Toya would stick around. This was the sort of activity I'd rather do with the whole team, but we ended up being short a few hands. Still, maybe it was better to get started now and get their input on it later. It wasn't as though those two not being around prevented us from getting a headstart, but I didn't want to exclude them, either.

We were back in our room now. The one place where we could earnestly relax without needing to worry about the prying eyes of others. The panel by the door was a convenient security system, too. The only people able to enter were the members of Equinox. While it was possible that Screen could use her magic to communicate with us from the front desk, there was always warning beforehand.

Now that we were back, I wanted to tidy the place up. There wasn't much that needed to be done before we got started, but the few small bits were easy to handle. Using my [Telekinetic Field], I closed the single drawer that had been left open. Within the drawer, I saw a number of the pamphlets for monstrous races that Streiphen had taken from Menere the Roden's stall back in the Nastrega Shopping Center. As annoying as it was to 'grip' non-metal objects with my [Telekinesis], brute force pushing something as light as a drawer wasn't that hard.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

The hardest task was folding up the newspaper that had been left on Sigura's bed. It took a few earnest seconds of thought before I worked to grip it by one end at a time, letting gravity do most of the work for me.

Once that was finished, I looked for anything else that needed doing. My eye was drawn to the top of the drawer, which was now the most personalised looking area of the room. Sitting atop it was the clay pot holding my Viridian Hats, a cluster of green flowers that helped to brighten up the room a bit. Sitting next to it was Streiphen's Unicorn toy, something that he left next to the plant 'to guard it' whenever he wasn't around. The Unicorn itself was partially buried in shadow, given that my beret was resting on top of it. It wasn't the best fit, given how massive it was, but Streiphen had liked the idea of the beret keeping it warm. It had brought a mote of warmth to me, too. It was just a small touch, but it was nice. One step closer to normality.

While I was looking over the top of the drawer, Streiphen walked past me, reaching down with his gloved hands towards the heater next to the wall. His starry eyes drew closed with focus as his own green Aera snaked out, activating the rune on the artefact. Feeding on the magic energy it had been given, the heater went to work, and I felt the room begin to warm up.

Streiphen plopped himself down onto his bed, shucking off his jacket with a smile. Given that the heater was on, I decided to follow suit, using my [Telekinesis] to pull the bronze helmet free from my body. Drops of sweat slowly dribbled down my form, but taking off the helmet had let a pleasant chill through to my body.

"This place has gotten so cozy!" Streiphen commented with a smile, letting his upper half fall back against the sheets of his bed.

"[It's... a lot nicer than it was when we first came here,]" I admitted, a smile finding its way into the tone of my voice. Some of the tension within me that had been building up melted away.

"What could we do to make the place nicer?" Streiphen mused, sitting up once again as he pursed his lips, looking around the room. Finally, his eyes found me. "Do you have any ideas, Miss Yuri?"

Did I? The easy, simple answer would be to say that we should just get more belongings. But with how much love had gone into the room already, I didn't want to give an answer without thought that could potentially damage the room's... cozy feel.

What could we do to make the room nicer?

I couldn't help but let my mind drift back to the past. I thought about my real home, and what had made that so special.

When I'd wanted to improve my room back in Addersbrook, I'd filled it with everything I could think of. Posters. Books. Inventions. Clothes. At the time, it had seemed only natural, but nothing had ever truly made it feel like home. I'd been constantly surrounded by a room littered with futile attempts, reminders that I'd failed to replicate the real thing.

It had been... difficult, to acclimate to living in that room, to the point where the basement workshop became a more relaxing place to be.

Then what had made my old home, my real home, so special? I cast my mind back further, thinking of our quaint, riverside home in Lucan. My room had been smaller, and less cluttered. There weren't as many belongings or reasons for me to return there during the day, so why did it have a special quality that my room in Addersbrook didn't? What was the key? Had I polluted my chances of growing used to the room by smothering myself in objects I was fond of? It didn't make sense, but it was all I had to go off of.

"[I... I don't think we should fill the room with too many possessions, or it'll feel cluttered,]" I responded clumsily, not really knowing what better advice to give. The others would likely have far better advice to give than me. "[What... did you do to make your own room feel like home, Streiphen?]"

It was then that I saw Streiphen's shoulders hunch up. He averted his eyes, the lids fractionally drooping down, obscuring some of his stars. His expression became forlorn. Distant.

"Umm...I don't really know. I don't think my old house really felt much like a home either," he admitted, looking around the room. When his eyes landed on the Unicorn half-covered by the beret, a small smile worked to brighten up his face. "I... I already prefer this place, because I can be with Miss Yuri and everyone else!"

Part of me regretted taking off my helmet, now that I was unable to hide the slight reddening at the sides of my form.

A laugh pierced the silence after Streiphen's words, and I saw the Chimera boy's eyes turn skyward. He looked up at the mattress above his bunk, where Fareel was laying down on the sheets, hands linked behind his head as he lounged against the pillow. He wore a smile on his face, looking delighted with himself.

In truth, I'd almost forgotten he was here at all. Part of had wondered if he'd drifted off to sleep, or had been reading something, but he hadn't climbed into his little 'sleeping pile'. Or, at least, that was what I'd taken to calling it.

At the far end of Fareel's bed was a thick pile of shirts, pantses, scarves, hats, and a number of other clothing items, all balled up together into what looked like a completely disorganised mess. When it came time for everyone to sleep, Fareel clambered into the center of that mess, dragging his poor defenseless pillow in with him. He'd emerge from it when morning came, his head popping out with eyes squinting, and climb out as though nothing was strange about his odd sleeping habits.

I had no idea if it was a Fishfolk trait, or just another strange Fareel trait.

He rolled to the side, gripping the railings of his bed before leaning his head down past the ladder. He looked down at Streiphen, his upside-down head sitting between the rungs as he gave the boy a knowing nod.

"[What would you recommend we do to improve our living space then, Fareel?]" I asked, my tone slightly pointed with the embarrassment brought upon by his sudden burst of laughter.

With a grin, Fareel's head swung back upwards. He got himself into a sitting position, bringing his hands together as his eyes closed with focus. I knew Fareel was mute, but I'd expected him to point or gargle something in an attempt to communicate. This was new.

The focus on his face was strange, too. I rarely saw any expression on his face beyond joy or an apathetic aloof look. Between his hands, I saw a blue-green glow begin to form. His Aera bubbled to life, becoming drops of moisture in the air. He pulled his hands apart, calling the moisture to him as he formed a [Water Sphere].

Streiphen hopped off his bed, walking over to me as he turned his head, looking up at whatever it was Fareel was doing. Part of me was worried that he was going to throw it at me or something. It was an irrational fear, but one that decided to take up residence in my mind regardless.

With a wave of his webbed fingers, the sphere began to change shape. The base became thicker, while the top became longer, more pointed. He was using the magic to communicate. Once he finished creating the shape and his eyes snapped open with a grin, the [Water Sphere] looked more like a drop.

Rain? Water? I was reminded of Fareel's habit of constantly hopping in puddles, much to Sigura's dismay.

"[Water?]" I guessed aloud.

He nodded with a grin, gurgling happily at the fact that I was playing along with his impromptu game of magical charades. Streiphen grinned as his fingers began to move again, weaving the drop into... a very similar shape to the one before it. If I were to guess, his ability to control the shape of the sphere wasn't terribly well developed. That, or he didn't want to expend much effort moving the ball of water. I wouldn't have been surprised if that were the case either.

Now, the drop was fatter and rounder at the bottom and middle, with a small stem protruding from the top.

"It's a pear! Fruit? Food?" Streiphen exclaimed, guessing with a smile on his face.

Fareel nodded again, beginning to once again weave the 'sphere'. He wasn't providing any useful information with this little game, but if nothing else, at least Streiphen was enjoying himself.

The final shape was his most elaborate, even if it wasn't a terribly impressive image on its own.

"[A fish...?]" I asked uncertainly. While I wasn't certain that Fareel would answer with food twice to a question like this, I wouldn't put it past him.

The Fishfolk grimaced, giving me a shrug that told me I was off the mark, even though his design was clearly a fish.

"Oh! Fishing?" Streiphen exclaimed again, evidently loving this little show Fareel was putting on.

With a grin, Fareel's brushed his hand through the ball of water. The fish that it had become split into fragments, drifting upwards through the air without the influence of gravity before fading away into motes of blue-green light.

"[The third option was... fishing?]" I asked again. "[You don't mean bringing in fishing rods, do you? Were you talking about... recreation? Games? Hobbies?]"

The Fishfolk Chimera laughed at my response, which wasn't helping to quell the embarrassed red tinge running along the length of my pink body. He shrugged with a smile that stretched ear to ear, laying back down onto the bed. He began to close his eyes, only for them to snap back open a moment later. He leaned back up, hands reaching for... the necklace. I hadn't even realised that Fareel was still wearing it.

He gingerly removed it, handling the artefact with more care than I'd expected. He scooched over to the edge of the bed, leaning just far enough out that he could wrap it around the neck of the mannequin close by. With a single webbed hand, he grabbed the Lizard head symbol connected to the chain, gave it a little wiggle, and smiled at me.

Was he making a joke about it? Or was it his way of saying thanks?

I had no way of knowing, and by the way he returned to lying down without another word, I didn't suspect he was willing to enlighten me, either.

Streiphen walked back towards his bed, idly humming to himself as he got down on all fours. Squinting, one arm reached underneath his bed, groping around for a cardboard box that I could plainly see.

"[More to the right, Streiphen. Yes- no, a little further back- there! You've got it.]"

Streiphen smiled sheepishly, reaching under to grab the sides with both hands. I didn't know what was in the box, but if Streiphen had gone through the trouble of hiding it under his bed, I suspected it was something he hadn't wanted us to see. Even if I could have seen the contents through my zone, I wanted to give him some measure of privacy, and worked to pointedly avoid scanning through it.

I couldn't help but be reminded of my final day. Watching Streiphen grope around under the bed brought with it a strangely nostalgic feeling. What he pulled out wasn't a magic gauntlet or a bag of adventuring equipment, but a plain cardboard box.

"[Is this the surprise you were talking about before, Streiphen?]" I asked, feeling my curiosity begin to well up now that the box was right in front of us.

"What...? Oh!" he exclaimed, his clouded expression brightening. "No, no! Umm... the surprise is coming later, this is something different."

"[Then what's in the box?]" I replied. I could have looked at it, but if he revealed something he was proud of and I didn't give a genuine reaction of surprise, he might get upset.

"Some stuff I got from the others for just this moment!" he chirped, opening up the flaps of the box. "I went around asking people for this and got a ton of things!"

He went asking around? Who had been asking? The people of the Velvet Star?

"[Why is this the first I've heard of it?]" I asked, a note of concern slipping into my voice.

"Oh... um... I wanted this to be a surprise too! Just... a smaller surprise before the big surprise!" he smiled, before his eyes turned from me back down to the box. "I... wanted everyone to be here to do this, but... there's always someone missing, so... I just want to do it with Miss Yuri!"

When he reached his hands into the box and pulled them free, I finally saw what exactly it was Streiphen had been gathering.

Decorations and trinkets.

The box was chock full of small plastic baubles, bells, a few sharp looking metal trinkets with patterns engraved onto them, and a few other knick knacks. One object in particular stuck out to me, and I sent a metal hand forth from my compartment to gingerly pluck it free from the box. I clenched it between my thumb and forefinger, letting it unfurl as my suspicions were confirmed.

"[Who gave you this...?]" I asked, my zone scanning over what was undoubtedly the bright pink poster for Bubblegum Pink's concert.

"Oh! Miss Bubblegum did!" Streiphen chirped. "I remember you said that posters would make the room nicer, and she said she had plenty of them lying around! This one is really nice, too!"

I couldn't help but think that someone handing out posters of their own promotional material as being incredibly narcissistic, but he was right. It was very colourful. The bright pink practically jumped out from the poster, making it hard to look away from. It was eye catching.

While Streiphen reached deeper into the box to grab a ball of what looked like a blue, sticky substance, I scanned through the rest of the box with my zone. Beneath the actual decorations, I saw a surprising amount of... extra material.

"[Where did all of these shirts and bracelets come from...?]" I asked, my tone reaching into the realm of sheer bewilderment.

"Oh!" Streiphen exclaimed, looking over his shoulder for a moment as he worked to stick the poster up on the wall next to his bed. "Miss Shafu said that she had a lot of stuff lying around! She told me her room was full of junk, and this was a good opportunity to give some of it away!"

Were those her actual words?

Gee. Thanks, Shafu. She wasn't wrong in saying she had a lot of junk, but it made sense. If her magic was very chaotic and selective, that meant that she'd need plenty of different materials around in case inspiration struck. While it made sense on a logical level, I still couldn't bring myself to feel terribly pleased that she'd pawned off a lot of unusable junk onto a child.

While I was looking through the box, Fareel's head and hands poked over the side of the bed. With a beaming grin, he leapt down, landing easily on the floor as he approached the box. Reaching in with both hands, the Fishfolk scooped up nearly the entire pile of clothes and bracelets in one go. Dumping the 'junk' onto Streiphen's bed next to his coat, he began to filter through the pile. While some were thrown up onto his top bunk to be added to his pile, no doubt, those that didn't look quite as soft were tossed to the side.

I didn't approve of him dumping the excess on Streiphen's sheets, but they weren't there for long. Once he'd gone through his rigorous sorting process, he began to dress the mannequin up in multiple layers of 'rejected' clothes. The forearms became nearly buried in bracelets of different colours, designs, and materials.

Even if it wasn't in the most productive way possible, we'd been able to make use of Shafu's 'junk'. I was sure she'd be proud to hear her stuff was being put to good use. Good job, Fareel.

Using my eight metallic hands, I pulled free a long string lined with triangular flags. While they lacked symbols, all of them were colourful. Unraveling the long line of flags, I pulled the bunting free from the box, assisting in the decoration process as I wove it in between the railings, leaving a trail of blue, green, and red flags all along the top bunks.

It was only after I finished applying them to Sigura's bunk too that I realised Streiphen was staring up at them with a bright smile on his face.

"That looks so good!" he exclaimed, the praise warming me to my core.

It was only something small, but it made a difference. Judging by what the others had told us in Fancy Freakies, the holidays were coming. We were nearing Year's End, and our room had become... unexpectedly festive looking, thanks to the bunting.

It was a festive time I'd only ever really gotten to experience back in Lucan. My parents were the strictly practical type, unwilling to celebrate events that had nothing to do with them. They left a few religious totems dedicated to the Primordials around the house for worship, obviously, but nothing beyond that. My only experiences celebrating the 'spirit' of Year's End came from being at the houses of friends, but I'd never been able to make connections deep enough in Addersbrook to experience it there. But...

The room felt... different, now. Welcoming and warm in a way that left me at a loss for words. I still didn't know why, or what the answer was, but... this room, stuffed away into a base for a criminal organisation, with little belongings beyond a few sparse pieces of work material, toys, clothing, and 'junk'... felt more like home than Addersbrook ever had.

It was a stunning feeling, and one that I was having trouble understanding. My awareness fell to Streiphen again as he hummed to himself, idly rummaging through the box.

This felt nice. Familiar. Welcoming.

In a strange way, Streiphen had managed to do what my years of countless attempts had failed to do. Whatever the secret ingredient was to making a room feel more like home, Streiphen seemed to know what it was, even if he didn't think so.

I was determined to learn what it was for myself.

The doors to the room opened without warning, the doors pulling apart, and my awareness swerved to meet the person standing in the doorway.

Toya.

Relief and a surge of hope welled up within me, an uncharacteristic feeling completely at odds with everything I'd felt earlier.

He stepped inside, opening his mouth to speak as his eyes froze, slowly scanning over the room. Whatever he'd been about to say caught in his throat as he took in more and more of our joint handiwork. He was clearly taken aback.

"Hey, Toya!" Streiphen chirped, waving as he freed an arm from the confines of the crowded box. "We're decorating! Do you wanna help out too?"

Toya's shoulders hunched up. His eyes turned from the Unicorn barely visible behind me to the mannequin, to the poster, and finally to the bunting hanging proudly from both bunk beds. His expression clouded with worry, his eyes becoming sharp and serious.

Whatever he'd been about to say was lost.

Without a word, he turned around, quickly walking away from the room.

"T-toya?" Streiphen called out, leaping up from the box. Fareel sighed to himself, continuing to shift the clothes around on the mannequin, albeit with less enthusiasm. "Are you okay??"

"I... I'll be back to talk later," came his voice calling from the end of the hallway, a subdued echo of a sound.

I hoped so.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The light of the workshop was calming.

The runes high above were far enough away that they didn't smother everything in blinding white light, yet still stayed close enough to chase away the worst of the vast room's shadows. The light emitted by the activated runes glinted on the polished white metal of the completed Aetherman, a massive Humanoid mech standing proud in front of the opposite wall, as though it were a sentinel watching over all that happened before it.

Peaceful.

As far as days in the workshop went, today was lazy. A few Casters were scattered around, using the tables and desks for idle tinkering. Gearhead stood tall, loudly instructing a number of Goons on how to create basic runecraft, using a metal wand with a glowing silver tip to draw patterns onto a spare sheet of metal. The group around him watched while chatting to each other, asking questions that the eager, excitable man was more than happy to answer.

While Gearhead was giving a group his lecture, the center of the workshop was home to some more practical training. Blade clashed against blade as Streiphen swung the mangled, twisted weapon he called his own. It slammed against a pair of daggers held by Pack Rat.

The elderly Roden grinned as he turned, redirecting the force of Streiphen's blow to throw him off balance. The man's grey fur was illuminated by his blueish-grey [Mantle] tinged with tiny white pinpricks along its surface, a colour that stood in stark contrast to Streiphen's radiant green and silver shine.

Pack Rat had made it clear that the training hall would've been a far more suitable spot to train, but Streiphen had been adamant. He wanted to train here, where I was at work. With a chuckle and a shrug that said well, if you insist, the Roden conceded.

The boy threw glances at me every few minutes, smiling brightly as his forehead and cheeks were beaded with sweat. Pack Rat took advantage of the opportunity, pressing Streiphen a little harder every time he felt that the child had gotten too acclimated to his style.

Metal gingerly pressed down against steel, creating a quiet sizzling sound as I continued to shape my magic. With the help of my [Telekinetic Field] and [Heated Steel], I was trying something new. The thumb and middle finger on three of my floating metal hands were red with heat, pressing against the forefinger as the digit was slowly shaped into that of a workable tool. Being able to recreate tools using the fingers of my hands would prove to be a useful skill that would let me conserve space in my compartment. It was a suggestion I'd received that I was eager to train, given that it was helping me to work out the fine control aspect of my magic as an unintended bonus. Even now, I could feel just how much more 'right' the hands felt in my telekinetic grip.

The woman who'd given me that suggestion was lounging in a chair to my right. One red leg was swung over the other, a cloven hoof bobbing in the air as she observed the workshop around her. Shambles- no... Shafu, was doing what she did best, lounging as her mind wandered to places beyond my sight, daydreaming in search of her next burst of inspiration. One of her metallic arms held the end of a lollipop, idly wiggling the stick side to side as she was lost in thought. The Darkling's head turned back towards me, her long, spiky golden hair swaying as her chair swiveled around.

"Hey, Yur?" she spoke, her voice calm and casual. I was still working to get used to speaking with her like this, but she'd been insistent.

"[Hmm?]" I responded, focusing more on my work while trying to let my words work on autopilot.

Alongside the shaping of my hands, I was trying to improve my ability to multitask.

Silently, the green metal that resonated within my form like a second heartbeat was being molded and shaped like putty by a number of additional hands. I still hadn't pinpointed what that resonance was, but after teasing some answers out of Shafu without giving too much away, I'd confirmed that it was in line with my magical specialties. I hadn't figured out specifically what that was, either, beyond using memories as a catalyst. If the Don thought of our request seriously and prepared a Vox for me, that would be the ideal tool to really research this sort of stuff. If not, I could ask Sigura or Streiphen to buy or rent a book from a local library to fill the gaps.

"This kid's really getting into this stuff, huh?" she asked with a smile, watching as the two clashed again. Streiphen's long, pristine white hair and Pack Rat's fu manchu swayed gently in the air as the fans on the front of my form worked to keep the worst of the heat and fatigue from impeding their practice.

"[He's eager to prove himself,]" I responded, feeling a note of pride swell up within me as Streiphen turned, managing to parry one of the Roden's slower strikes.

"Yeah, I can tell," Shafu laughed, her bright amber eyes turning back towards me with a wry grin. "He's not the only one though, is he? You look like you're pushin' yourself, too."

A mild blush spread across my unprotected form.

"[W-we're just trying to show that we're serious about all of this, Sham- Shafu. It's important that we integrate well for everyone's sake.]"

Her eyes softened, and the woman looked back towards Streiphen as the pair stopped fighting to catch their breath. I heard Pack Rat begin to speak to the boy, answering some question as Shafu and I idly watched.

"I think you might be worryin' a little too much about that. You're all integrating pretty well already. I heard your team went out with Double T and some of the others last night."

Double...? Ah. Tick Tock.

"[Yes, just for some food. I believed it was important for us to unwind a little, and... if we could do that while deepening our relationships with the others, then it was a win-win.]"

Shafu's expression warped into a small smile, and she snickered to herself.

"I'm sure they were really impressed, Yur, so... don't feel the need to push yourself too hard," she said. "Anyone who can put up with Marcian for a whole dinner is definitely worthy of respect in my book."

My instinctual response was to jump to the eccentric man's defense, but Sigura's words rang true in my mind. She was just joking, a light comment about a coworker. Harmless.

"[He's not so bad when-]"

My mental word was cut short by the sound of a ding! I couldn't help but reflexively flinch at the noise. It was a bad habit, and one I was determined to work out of my system by making a bell of my own again, one with a real function that would help with adjusting to the noise.

One of Gearhead's trainees walked over to the door, opening it up for the person on the other side. The sound was just a request to enter, not a sign that enemies were coming. We were fine here. Safe. I needed to try and relax a bit, and not take things quite as seriously. It was a hard idea to wrap my head around, but one that Shafu regularly tried to coax me into. When seeing how laid back and relaxed she was despite the respect she got from the others here, it was hard not to feel jealous. Still, it was something I could work towards in-

Toya walked into the workshop.

I felt myself instinctively tense, a reaction that I felt an immediate sense of irritation and guilt for. While he walked in, hands clenched into fists as he cast his eyes about, I worked to untangle the knots formed along the grooves of my skin.

"Good afternoon, young Moonshine," Pack Rat grinned, giving the man a wave that Streiphen mimicked, a wide grin stretching across his face. He couldn't fool me. That look in his starry eyes told me he'd felt a panicked burst of apprehension, too. Like me, he tried to work through it.

Toya tried to raise his arm back in a wave, but the trembling limb could only lift halfway before it dropped again. Instead, he gave both of them a nod, continuing to stride through the workshop.

"Now, as I was saying," Pack Rat spoke, a sound I tuned into to distract myself. "The Don has taken to you well, and I wish to get you all fitted for uniforms before things take off and start getting very busy around here."

Streiphen's answer was delayed. Pack Rat had undoubtedly noticed the tense shift in the boy's mood, but had chosen not to comment on it. I was silently thankful to him for that.

"Oh... okay...!" he responded, trying to lift the tone of his voice out of the emotional spiral Toya's appearance had sent him on. We still didn't know what had set the Slime-like man off earlier. "Umm... so... measurements?"

He wasn't listening to Pack Rat as closely as I had been. I couldn't blame him.

"Hrrm... yes. It would be good to get them in advance, just to have them on file before work becomes more hectic," the Roden assured the boy, casting a wary glance back towards Toya.

The man continued to walk through the room, his skin rippling and short black hair flowing as he stepped into the path of my fans. He didn't seem to notice. His shoulders fractionally relaxed as he stopped looking around. Maybe he'd found whatever it was he was looking for.

Then, his eyes finally turned towards me, and I felt my body tense up, freezing under his gaze. His stoic expression was chipped as his sight landed on the metallic hands floating in the air, still working on creating tools, even now. Now... he looked a little unsettled. Conflicted. It was impossible to know what he was thinking.

He stopped walking, standing not far from my body as Shafu merely raised a curious eyebrow.

"We need to talk," he said, his voice stiff and collected. Resolute.

For a few painfully long moments, all was silent. The gravity of his words hit me hard. Too hard.

"[Can we talk here?]" I responded, feigning ignorance as my body only served to tighten further. "[Streiphen and I are in the middle of training, and I'd rather not leave it if possible. Is this urgent?]"

To my right, I saw Shafu flinching a little, swiveling her chair slightly to pull her grimacing face and eyes away from my form. It was... it was important to be clear about my current goals and process. This was proper communication.

Toya opened his mouth to speak. He hesitated, his lips coming close to closing before they worked up the courage to part once more.

"Y-yes, it's urgent. Can we please speak somewhere else?"

It was urgent. I'd guessed as much, but it felt different hearing it directly.

"[Can this wait? I don't want to leave in the middle of training,]" I responded weakly, my body tightening with a deep sense of dread that continued to well up inside me. My form suddenly felt so, so heavy.

"I..." Toya muttered before trailing off. He took a long, deep breath, shivering from the sensation. "I can't do this anymore, Yuri."

Streiphen and Pack Rat stopped their conversation, eyes turning to look towards Toya's back as he stared up at me, gaze unflinching.

"[Do... this?]" I responded, feeling the dread curling through the surface of my skin begin to seep into my words. "[B-being part of... the team?]"

I'd said it too quickly. If I'd guessed wrong and that wasn't his intention, then it'd be on his mind, now. Stupid. I shouldn't have said that. Stupid. Stupid. Stu-

"Being part of... any of this," Toya responded vaguely, gesturing with an arm to the workshop at large. "I... I tried to convince myself we were doing this for a good cause. I tried really hard to make this all fit in my head, but I couldn't make it work. I... can't work for a criminal anymore, Yuri."

"Hey," Shafu interjected softly, rubbing the back of her neck with one of her metallic arms. "I know this might not be the same where you come from, but 'criminal' in this city has a pretty big spectrum compared to other places, so... don't paint our group with the same brush you'd use for others. I know you're all new around here, but-"

"Please..." Toya interrupted, clenched fists trembling as he pulled his eyes away from my form. "Let me finish."

I remained silent, and Shafu joined me. Toya took a few moments to collect himself. The only sound was that of the fans gently whirring within me, the sizzling of metal on metal, and the faraway sound of Gearhead's instructions.

"I've been trying to be optimistic and look at this in the most favourable way I possibly can, but I just can't make the pieces fit. Just being here... twists me up inside, Yuri," he whispered, his voice quiet and damaged. Familiar.

"[We... We're helping people here, Toya,]" I responded softly, sending my [Telepathy] out to meet him. "[We're making a real difference for the people living here. Isn't that what you want to-]"

"It's not the same," he cut in, louder now. He tore his eyes up from the floor, locking them back onto my tense, exposed flesh. "It doesn't feel right. It... just feels like a justification for working with real, dangerous criminals. You and Sigura have been... distancing yourself from it. When we left the Don's office, the way you were talking about people as though they were just numbers, or... or stepping stones to further your own goals was... hard to listen to. I... I don't know who you were before all this, but I know the person I was couldn't deal with something like this. I'm... I'm sorry, but I want out."

I didn't know what to say. He was wrong. Irrational. Providing more arguments that wouldn't hold up under close scrutiny. I wanted to tell him that. To argue my case and my position. I couldn't find the words.

"We've been getting attention, and maybe we don't have a bad reputation, but... but it's built on a rotten foundation, Yuri," he continued, working hard to not break line of sight with my body. "It'll... this is all to put people breaking the law in power. You... you get that, right?"

My body felt dry. The sweat pouring down my body wasn't helping. I felt it uncomfortably slide down my form, dripping down onto the floor. Pack Rat sighed.

"[You heard everything Sigura said, just like I did, Toya,]" I responded, finding different words to replace those that had been lingering just beyond the grip of my mind. "[We don't have other options here. We're not citizens, or travelers, or registered adventurers. We're Chimeras, Toya. Monsters. No matter... how you look at it, this is the best route we have to ensure that we have safe, normal lives.]"

I was right, and Toya was being irrational. It was annoying that we had to explain this to him over and over, but...

"If you want a safe, normal life, you won't find it here," Toya sighed, his shoulders slumping as his eyes finally fell. "You were... you were all decorating that room like this place is just another house. Like it isn't a den for criminals that work against the Watch and plot to gain territory and control over the people of this city."

His face warped, wearing a sad, bitter smile.

"I... I thought I'd be stuck doing something like this someday. Part of me knew it was coming. I thought I'd be able to... to just resign myself to it when the time came, but I can't. This is- has been eating away at me, and I can't be part of it any longer, Yuri," he said, his voice managing to sound breathless despite not having lungs.

"[We're all a team, Toya,]" I responded, working hard to push the desperation from creeping into my voice. "[We're in this together. We have been since the escape. If we... if we don't have each other, who will we have?]"

I hoped that would get him. That it would sway him into staying. He didn't fit here, and his heart wasn't in it, but the part of me that was too stubborn to realise that was still working to keep him.

"I've been by myself for a long time. Long since before Chimera," he murmured, his eyes falling to the floor. "I know how to deal with that just fine. This is different. It's too much. And... I don't want to be around..."

He trailed off, unable or unwilling to speak the word that followed. Annoyance swelled up in me, a feeling I hadn't expected to emerge. This... no, I shouldn't be feeling these things. If I was smarter, I would have known. This was inevitable. Toya didn't really fit in here, and... and... and this was just the end result.

"The way you two talk to each other hurts, too," he spoke abruptly, his voice growing a little louder. "I thought... I thought that bond you and Sigura had before was amazing. Something that'd get us to safety and away from Chimera, something that just might lead us to a normal life, but... it's become so painful to watch. You do nothing whenever she acts out and does something wrong, and whenever you do speak up against it, she explodes. She's..."

The annoyance within me swelled. Sigura was trying. She was getting better. Becoming more-

"She's... an angry person, Yuri," he continued, eyes climbing up to reach me once again. "She's... a damn bully, one that has hurt me, has hurt you, and she doesn't think twice about it. You let her act like that without consequences even though you're the leader."

"[You don't know anything about Sigura, so don't act like you do,]" I responded coldly, feeling the annoyance within me come to the fore. He didn't see how much she'd agonised over that conversation. She wasn't perfect, but... but none of us were. He just didn't see- "[If you want to leave this team because you can't fit in here, or because you can't handle the weight of what we're doing... Toya, we're putting in the effort to make this work and live our lives with the hand we've been dealt. If... if you can't handle that, or be a part of it, then maybe you should just leave.]"

I said it. The anger in me assured me this was the right path. I'd never felt more simultaneously aligned with my emotions yet worried about whether I was horrifically wrong in my entire life. I sounded as though I felt strongly about this, but I'd never felt more uncertain.

"Wait, wait!" Streiphen cried out, rushing over to wrap his arms around Toya's. Tears welled up at the edges of his face, yet refused to burst free. He was trying hard to stand strong. "You don't need to do anything rash, Mister Toya! We can make this work, really!"

I wanted the boy to leave. I wanted Pack Rat to take Streiphen away from this. The twists in my body's surface coiled into painful knots, seeing him like this. I hated Toya for what he was saying and doing, right in front of Streiphen.

"P-please don't let our team fall apart!" he exclaimed, starry eyes wobbling in their sockets as he stared up into Toya's sad, stoic expression. "We're sorry if... if..."

He couldn't find the words. A sadly common phenomenon we were all falling prey to.

"I'm sorry too, Streiphen," Toya responded quietly. "I shouldn't have walked into all this without really thinking over the consequences... I should have made it clear just how much I didn't want this sooner. If I had... I wouldn't have had to hurt you like this, and I'm... I'm really sorry for that, but..."

He took a deep breath, pulling his eyes from Streiphen's to look back up at me. I saw a conflicting look of sadness and deep frustration fill the Chimera boy's eyes. Streiphen tugged on Toya's arm, trying in vain to regain his attention.

"But... apologies won't mean anything if we don't act on it," Toya continued, his voice softening. "I'll... try to make this up to you. I don't want to become your enemy and fight you, but... I can't still be your ally and do this anymore."

The stoic Slime's eyes began to water, too, as the mask began to show its cracks.

I remained silent.

"It's my fault you feel this way, and I'm sorry for that, Streiphen..." he spoke, casting his eyes down towards Streiphen.

It was while his gaze travelled down towards the boy that he saw Pack Rat staring him down. His eyes pooled with worry, glancing from Streiphen to me, and back again. A shiver ran through his body, and his fists clenched again.

"We can make this work, Toya!" Streiphen cried. "We're a team!"

Toya's jaw hardened, and his eyes turned back towards Streiphen. The tears were gone.

"I'm sure you can," he replied somberly, taking a deep breath. "Yuri can be a good leader, but... you'll have to make the team work without me. I quit."

Toya dragged his gaze back upwards, moving with a glacial speed, as though a pair of anchors were hanging from his cheeks.

"Will... will the Don try to hunt me down for leaving like this?" he asked Pack Rat, fixing his eyes on the irritated Roden.

"No, he will not," the elderly Roden growled. His daggers had disappeared, and the man's hand began to stroke the fu manchu hanging down from above his lips. Then, he sighed. "The Don is not such a petty man. He will do no such thing. You are free to leave as you wish, as you are no member of ours. But I shall make this clear, there will be consequences if you speak of our plans to those beyond these walls. I am sure you understand this, yes?"

The words were laced with a hidden threat. A set of surprisingly serious words for a man whom I'd rarely seen truly serious.

"Yeah," Toya nodded, expression resolute. "Yeah, I do."

Then, he began to walk, dragging Streiphen along with him.

"Noooo! Don't go! Please, Toya!" he cried. I felt myself beginning to reflexively retract my zone. This was becoming too hard to listen to.

"I'm sorry," Toya responded, his voice quiet and filled with pain. "I've made up my mind. I'll... I'll stay in touch..."

Streiphen's feet moved in tandem with his, working to keep up with the Slime as they approached the workshop's exit. Toya threw the boy once last, sad look, before his body tore. The slime beneath his shoulder began to bubble before splitting away.

As his arm broke off, Streiphen's eyes widened in shock as he fell forward. Two metallic hands soared through the air, grabbing onto the Chimera boy's shoulders to support him. He slumped, held aloft only by my magic. His eyes closed, hugging the severed arm close to his chest even as it began to melt and lose its shape in his embrace. His tears finally began to flow.

"Goodbye, Equinox," Toya said, louder now, casting a sad look from Streiphen before hurrying to push his eyes towards me. I felt resentful, seeing that. He should be forced to look at Streiphen. To look at what he was doing. What he was causing. "I'm... I'm sorry."

The doors slowly closed behind him.

With a sigh, Pack Rat broke the relative silence, his claws clacking against the hard floor as he made his way to Streiphen's side. The elderly Roden got down on his knees, planting a hand on the child's back as he began the long, agonising process of consoling him.

"I... I'm sorry for butting in," Shafu said quietly, her eyes full of sympathy and locked on Streiphen. They were the eyes of someone who hated to see another in pain. They weren't the eyes of a hardened criminal. Irrational. "I just wanted to try and help smooth things over. Stuff like this has... happened before."

"[Yeah. I know what this is like, too,]" I responded hollowly.

While Streiphen sobbed, and Gearhead finally took note of what was going on, I began to shut down. The burly man ran to the boy's side, giving him the support he needed. I'd be there to help him later, too, but... right now, I needed to rest. To process.

"[I... I need some time to think,]" I spoke aloud to nobody in particular, slowly bringing the hands back to me. They rested at the front of my form, sitting just behind the big bronze rose.

As my [Sensory Zone] retracted, and my thoughts went towards healing, I knew that I'd be stuck fighting back the feelings that would come for me, the feelings that would seek me out in the dark and strike the moment my guard was down.