[PRP] Hatoful Rescue (Ganyma + Odette + Didero)

[Sypon]

Friendships are mended as three trolls band together to save a lusus.

 

[Sypon]

Ganyma's quest to find his old connections had been abruptly cut off. He had been shot, stabbed, chased near to death and had nearly lost hope since his experience in Old Hemisect. But now, Ganyma was back. His hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail on top of his head, and his clothes were new and fitted. He'd gained quite the windfall since taking the offer in Four Fronds, and had primarily spent his funds to treat himself and Rasali, who was of course much closer to him now that he had moved to the resort town. The lines on his face had smoothed and his gentle manner was returning little by little, healing outside in.

He couldn't put off visiting Didero any longer. A couple of hours on the train and Ganyma found himself in New Hemisect again, breathing in the city air with a rush of nostalgia. The city always seemed the same; ample drones, busy nightlife. It was just the faces and names that exchanged, really. He stepped off of the tram and placed his hands in his pockets as he made his leisurely walk to the young greenblood's house. He remembered its location from dropping the child off after the WACKY incident, and had walked by it many times since then. Surrounded by pigeons, Didero's hive was hard to miss. It was for this reason that Ganyma nearly walked past it this night. The tealblood stopped in his tracks and looked up. There were no birds in the sky today. Not a one was resting on the windowsill, peeking in at the attractive fatherly pigeon inside. Strange. Perhaps he was out for the evening?

Ganyma stepped up to the hive, feeling suddenly on guard. The lack of a familiar chattering was almost eerie. He gave a few heavy knocks on the door, and finally called out. "Didero! It's Ganyma. Are you home?"  

[seekingCylem]

The narrow tower that was the Salons hive was barren. The wind whistled through every single window, left open to the elements and the hope that even a single bird would come home to roost. Yet the hive remained silent. Ganyma’s voice carried loud and clear without interference.

The lawnring remained still for a good long while until the front door jostled and clicked. With a creaking as ominous as the rest of the hive, the door opened a sliver to reveal Didero peering cautiously around the frame. Even with so little of Didero revealed, he was obviously haggard. His once-bright eyes were now ringed over with dark circles and blinking slowly as he registered the sight of Ganyma. His brows lifted ever so slightly in recognition of his old friend. The door opened further, but not without caution.

Didero was thin, gangly and wearing an unseasonably thick sweater overtop his usual outfit. He kept his posture tight and closed as he addressed Ganyma.

”Ganyma..!” His voice was hoarse with disuse, but cheerful, if not relieved, all the same. ”It’s been such a long time… What’s brought you out here?”

Honestly Didero had completely lost track of time since the Punishment Pits, but he knew it had been even longer since he’d last seen Ganyma. It could have been perigees, or even sweeps. To that end, Didero couldn’t remember a time he’d been happier since seeing one of his few friends come to visit.

That didn’t mean Didero wasn’t also careful. He wrung his sleeves tightly around his wrists.  

[zeflamigo]

"Is it nearby?" Odette asked, keeping a careful eye on her baby pigeon, Siegfried. The little featherbeast walked beside her, just a few paces in front to lead the way. The poor little guy hadn't learned how to fly yet, but determined nonetheless. He remained silent, rescue summons sticking out of his beak, leaving Odette to believe that he was certain in his searching. Still, she fidgeted nervously. She didn't want the poor baby getting hurt in the big city. If she looked away for one second, things could get dangerous.

As if on cue, Siegfried picked up his little bird feet and raced off, throwing Odette into a panic. "Siegfried, wait!" She called out, tripping over herself as she chased after the little bird. What had gotten him so worked up all of the sudden?

Siegfried rounded the corner quickly, flapping his tiny wings to try and keep his balance. There, his destination was finally in his sights. It was blocked by a very large figure, it appeared. Siegfried had no fear that this troll would get in his way. He scampered towards the hive, talons clacking quickly against the cement.

Making his way around the large feet, Siegfried squeezed his head through the doorway and dropped the paper scrap at Didero's feet, giving the little greenblood a soft coo before turning his attention to Ganyma. He approached the tealblood apprehensively, cocking his head at the large figure. He circled around one of Ganyma's boots, pausing for a moment before taking a curious nibble at the threading.

"Siegfried!" Odette shouted, finally catching up to the little bird. Her sights had locked on to him, ignoring her surroundings as she scooped the bird into her hands and pulled him close. "I'm so sorry," She apologized to the boot-clad troll, checking the pigeon over for injuries.

"He's very little and curious and he—" Odette stopped, eyes finally falling on Ganyma. Her breath hitched and she clenched her teeth, holding the little bird tighter to her chest. "You..." She said, hand frozen apprehensively over her weapon. She didn't want to start a fight with such a strong troll when Siegfried could get caught in the crossfire, but she wanted to be ready if it came to that.  

[Sypon]

Ganyma scratched at the side of his nose. Didero looked different than he remembered. Did he get a haircut? The nuances of his poor health were lost on the tealblood, who was simply enthusiastic about finding him in one piece. He broke into a smile. Didero was still pretty short, so Ganyma stooped down to give him a ruffle of the hair. "I've been checking up on old friends," he explained. "I was in a bad spot after Old Hemisect was destroyed and wanted to make sure you were okay. May I come --"

His greeting was interrupted suddenly. One of the pigeons had apparently returned. It peeped around his boots, and he stood very still while the baby pigeon delivered its message. He was curious, but after all this was Didero. The fact that there was just one pigeon here was the most arresting thing of the evening. More surprising was this pigeon's supposed caretaker. Ganyma looked around and suddenly registered the redblood in front of him. Red Swan, from Totally Spies? She'd grown.

He'd killed two birds in one stone in meeting her tonight. Ganyma was ambivalent about the rebels, but she had been so young when she was a part of the organization. But then again... So had Forera. Vulpin. Who knew what Vremea was thinking. His face visibly changed from joy to confusion, and he put an arm around Didero on guard. He would protect this child with his life, and he didn't even know the stakes. No.

Ganyma winced. He was expecting the worst, and going back to his old habits would help no one. His time spent suffering was over. She wasn't here to fight, after all, and he had no reason to cause trouble. He had a new life now, and perhaps so had she. Clean slate. Ganyma straightened and gave Didero a pat on the back. "I'm sorry! I didn't know you were expectin' no one, but it's good to see you again. This a friend of your dad?" He joked. Ganyma looked back up to Odette with a genial smile.  

[seekingCylem]

Ganyma looked older than Didero remembered. Obviously he was. They both were; that was how timed worked. He seemed more… Didero landed on the word subdued. Ganyma looked very mature—but cheerful, which Didero appreciated greatly. Didero smiled for the first time in weeks. Ganyma was looking out for him. Didero hadn’t had anyone look out for him in a very… long… time……

Didero felt tears welling up in his eyes at the sudden reception of custodial affection he was so starved for. ”G-Ganyma…” Didero began, only to be cut off with a hitched gasp as a small pigeon appeared at Ganyma’s feet.

It was like seeing a ghost. The name “Siegfried” was called out somewhere at the edge of Didero’s property, but it sounded miles away as Didero watched the little bird hop around. Eventually, shakily, Didero picked up the small scrap of paper. Didero knew enough Morse code to recognize the iconic string of dots and dashes. Even more pressing were the color and symbol—obviously his own.

Didero hadn’t been expecting the pat on the back from Ganyma. He nearly fell over, but was also brought back into the present. Who..?

Didero felt his bloodpusher lurch. He recognized this woman faintly from the prison exodus. He’d only seen her at a fair distance. He didn’t know she knew where he lived, and was horrified for a brief moment that anyone could have found his hive—the hive of an escaped convict. It took a second for Didero to remember the slip of paper in his hand. The pigeon. The pigeon brought her there. ”Dad…” His lusus… His lusus was still alive!?

”What- What’s the meaning of this.” Didero demanded, voice cold and expression stern. He held up the note that had crinkled in his tight grasp. Odette had been at the punishment pits. She’d seen him and the other children. She was the one with the bird. If she was going to raise his hopes like this after what he’d been through, she had better deliver.  

[zeflamigo]

Odette watched Ganyma warily, sniffnode crinkling in confusion. She winced at his jovial tone. "You think... You think this is funny?" She said, a lump catching in her throat. How could he be so calm, how could he just stand there and pretend everything was normal, acting he didn't even know who she was? She bit the inside of her lip, pushing her emotions down.

She pursed her lips, eyes darting between Ganyma and Didero. What was he doing with a wanted rebel criminal? Was he sent to try and convert Didero to the royalists? Ganyma spoke to him as if they were good friends. Just what was going on?

Regardless, it was evident that the tealblood didn't want to fight. Apprehensively, she brought her hand away from her weapon, straightening her posture to appear less threatened. Her muscles stayed tense, ready to pounce if this was just a ruse.

Her attention fell back to Didero, studying him intensely. Immediately, she cursed herself for taking so long. The child had clearly suffered from being without his lusus for such a long time. Still, she was glad to see that the message was not directly about him, and that he was not in any immediate danger. It was bittersweet, and Odette could only blame herself for not helping more.

"A flock gave it to me, at the Root. You know, where we first met?" Odette explained. She desperately wanted to approach closer and comfort the child, but it seemed out of the question with Ganyma present. "I'm so sorry, this is all my fault. This all happened because of my incompetence," She choked out, rubbing at the base of her neck. "We never found them— the lusii. I had assumed the worst." Odette looked at her feet, avoiding their eyes.

"But that paper," Odette said, lifting her head to look at the scrap. "That means he's still out there. We can find him!" She lifted the baby bird perched on her fingers, "Siegfried can help!" Desperately, she tried to smile, still feeling bittersweet about the whole ordeal. She looked at Didero, pleading with her eyes, "Please, I'm willing to do anything to make things right."

After a moment, her attention fell back to Ganyma. She hoped she had been vague enough for him to not start asking questions. The last thing she needed now was to accidentally give away any rebel secrets to the last living traitor to the rebel cause.  

[Hivestuck]

Ganyma tensed. He wasn't aware that he'd struck a nerve. Odette's terse question and Didero's sudden closing up was apparent enough for even him to detect. He looked down at Didero, now defensively shielding him. Ganyma's smile faded into a concerned slash across his features.

And, Odette was still talking. Words that had no meaning to him crossed his mind. Apparently these two met, and somewhere along the line... The lusii had gone? Lusii didn't just disappear. They may have been animals, but they were not some basic barkbeast that had ran out the back door. They had an instinct to protect their charges. Or at least, they were supposed to. At the very least they didn't just leave their trolls alone. Ganyma's throat constricted. Lusus issues aside, he had no idea what was going on here.

Ganyma gave Didero gentle contact on his shoulder, brushing aside his hair. There was no need for panic, or to upset him further. His words were soft and firm. "Didero, can we talk about this inside? Tell me what's going on."

(gdi sorry this is Sypon.... Forgot to log out of the mule.)  

[seekingCylem]

Didero focused on Odette. Ganyma provided an undercurrent of comfort with his presence. While he knew the tealblood through the rebellion, he didn’t associate Ganyma with the terrors of Chittentown and the Punishment Pits. He was safe. He protected him. Didero used the soft pressure on his back as motivation to speak with Odette. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her as well—she did save him from the Pits after all—but she was nervous and saying a lot of words that made him think of unpleasant things. Didero unclenched his jaw.

”You didn’t…” Didero intended to finish with “do anything,” but couldn’t figure out if his tone was meant to be consoling or accusatory and instead chose to let the sentiment trail off. Instead he focused on the last few words. ”Do you really think so? Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” Didero was afraid, but resolute. If Odette was offering her assistance, Didero would take it. After everything that had happened, ever since the Root, even, Didero would have given anything to become less helpless.

Didero backed up into his hive, pushing past Ganyma in order to open the door wider. He was inviting everyone in.

The interior of the hive was narrow and dark, with hallways and stairs circling the central room, which Didero entered. It was a library that took up the core of the tall building. There were a number of soft leather chairs and a desk. Didero pulled the swivel chair over from the desk and seated himself next to the armchairs.

The hive was messy, but sparsely decorated enough for the piles of books to not be much of a problem. Fluff and a few stray feathers skirted across the carpet. Aside from the footsteps of the trolls, the hive was otherwise silent—a fact Didero seemed all-too aware of.

”Ganyma…” Didero hadn’t heard much of Ganyma since their first trip to the desert. He didn’t know what Ganyma knew, or if he was even still involved with the rebels. He couldn’t have blamed him if he wasn’t. Didero was desperate enough to make the gamble on Ganyma’s loyalty to his friends overtaking his loyalty to whatever faction he was affiliating with. Odette’s tension regarding Ganyma didn’t even register.

”There was a problem on the last rebel mission… It was a trap.” Didero chose his words carefully. He only had so many until his throat closed up. Unsure of what to say and unwilling to elaborate further than necessary, Didero hooked his fingers under his sleeve. It was a little difficult with how many layers he’d chosen to wear, but he pulled his sleeve up to reveal his forearm. It pained Didero to look at the crisp black of the barcode stamped across his wrist. The scabs were gone now. It was just smooth skin, like it belonged there. Didero hated it.

”I’m not supposed to be here right now,” Didero whispered very quietly.  

[Sypon]

The room was deathly quiet. Ganyma stepped inside and the smell of birds permeated the room, without the presence of any avians. He stifled a sneeze from the dander and idly, his hand came up to his mouth to tensely knead his jaw. He was ushered into an armchair, but Ganyma had a difficult time sitting apart from Didero. He sat carefully on the very end of the cushion, leaning forward with his elbows upon his knees. His attention was rapt with worried anticipation.

There was a problem... A trap.

Any mention of the rebels made Ganyma's hair stand on end. Hearing the words in sequence felt like the echoes of falling droplets in the empty room. He could hear nothing else. The words were bare and plain. And yet, the connotations were immense. He was still involved with the rebels, and actively so. He was just a child - and there was a trap? Before he could even begin to process what the consequences of this might mean, Didero pulled up his sleeve and the dam broke.

"W-what... What did they do to you? What did you... Oh my gog. Oh -- oh my gog. O-oh...No..." Ganyma stuttered and choked. The mark of the condemned across such a small, smooth wrist was an image of horror. "No.."

The moment had to sink in for it to become a reality. As much as he blinked, looked away, wished it out of existence, it was still there. "H-how could this happen? How could you let this happen? Oh, Didero...!" Ganyma was overwhelmed. With a ragged sob, he rushed from his place and slid towards Didero, wrapping him in his arms. "No...No..."

He pressed his eyes shut against budding tears and clutched the small figure in his grip. He was young and optimistic, like him. Ganyma may have been in his position if he had not saved himself, and there was no telling what tragedy would befall the rest of the rebel alliance. Terror cooled and hardened into firm resolve. It flowed back into Ganyma, edged still with distraught. He stroked Didero's hair and tried to take stock of everything. The rebels were in the line of danger. Things were escalating. Didero was marked. Odette was a part of it all. Was Didero, still? Ganyma had never excelled at sorting out such a glut of thoughts. A tear streaked down his cheek. Finally, he pulled himself away. Ganyma wiped his weary face, still kneeling next to Didero.

"I won't let them hurt you again. I'm going to find your lusus."

Odette. Her words had begun to have more clarity. She had said this was her fault - she had hurt Didero. He couldn't play the fool any longer.

"Red Swan. You said you abandoned his lusus. Where... Is he?" His teeth were gritted.

Kimbley Kitty

seekingCylem

 

[zeflamigo]

Odette shook, repressed emotions making her fidget uncomfortably. She did her best to understand the situation, to understand the relationship between Didero and Ganyma, but she just wasn't buying into it. The care seemed genuine, but then again, it seemed genuine when she received the same treatment back in Old Hemisect. She had cared so much for the tealblood in such short time. Didero had probably been fooled too. Her muscles tensed, but she continued to listen, carefully waiting away from the two.

She jumped when Ganyma addressed her.

"Don't call me that!" Odette shouted, voice cracking. He didn't have the right to call her that, like she was still his teammate. Like he wasn't a complete, lying traitor. She laid a hand on her face, breathing hard to keep herself composed. "I abandoned him, huh?" She said curtly, holding Siegfried tighter. She didn't want to start a fight. Not here, not in Didero's home. But she had to protect him. Didero had to know. She didn't want the greenblood to be fooled the same way she once had. She couldn't let that happen.

"How can you say that with confidence, when you abandoned me to die in Old Hemisect?" She stepped dangerously close, chest bubbling with anger. "No, you didn't just abandon me, you betrayed me! You betrayed all of us!" She paused, searching for the emotion in Ganyma's face. Her nose crinkled, fighting down tears that threatened to escape the corners of her eyes. "I was waiting for you at the theatre- Only to find you had set me up to die!" She breathed sharply through her teeth, looking away to try and control herself. "I was just a kid..." Her breath hitched as she turned back to look Ganyma in the face, shouting at the tealblood. "My lusus is dead because of you!"

She cried freely now, wiping her tears roughly with the back of her hand, glancing over to Didero and back. "I won't let you be guilty for another," She stated, as assertively as her broken voice could muster. Her hands shook, desperately wanting to reach out at the larger troll. Instead she reached down to pet the small featherbeast in her hand, now worked up from all of her drama. Immediately she felt guilty, trying to soothe the little beast as quickly as possible, still crying openly. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she muttered softly, looking between Siegfried and Didero as she tried to compose herself.  

[Sypon]

Ganyma’s jaw tightened. Her words hit him in a bitter rush, and before he knew it he was recounting every detail of the OHC conflict like he had many times before. Rehabilitation had told him to let go and move on, but… It would never be over. Kursha was a sign of that – Forera, Vulpin. The rest of the spies would always remind him of who he used to be, and their relationship would never be so simple again. It made his bile sack turn at the thought. They were both young. It wasn’t fair.

The tealblood quaked until Odette referred to the theatre. Knotted confusion sprung to his features and soon he wasn’t sure if he was horrified, enraged or crushed. He only knew what he knew, and even behind a mask Ganyma was certain that he was in the right. But something still inside him bit with regret.

“The rebellion put you in that war – the rebels started that war. They put children on the line – they put you on the line, Swan… The reason I left is the reason I stand here now, and… It’s happening again. T-to you. To Didero,” The tears re-emerged as beads in Ganyma’s eyes. He was firm and forward. “I can’t be that way anymore. I can’t see this happen again…” His fist clenched. Ganyma took a deep breath and fought back a ragged cry. The same overdrawn image pulsed back into his mind. The event had happened so, so long ago, but that moment was firmly burned into Ganyma’s vision and he loathed it.

“We got to the theatre to do a demo job. Me and Kursha. I was scouting the perimeter. I found…” His throat closed up. He inhaled audibly through his crooked nose and rubbed at his eyes with a hand. “I found…” Another breath. “Three children playing in the garden of the theatre. A greenblood. A purpleblood. A redblood.” Sinter. Ganyma had to pause after each statement. His words were familiar, but not rehearsed. It was as though he was retracing his memory. “I was too late to save them before Kursha… Began demolition. He didn’t listen. I lost it. I had to leave. I had no idea. No idea you were there … I …” He dropped his arms. Ganyma looked defeated.

If he’d been there, he could have saved Odette’s lusus. Another child lost. Rebellion or not, there was no spin on the situation. There was no consolation. He finally advanced upon the redblood. “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry,”

It was now Odette who was enveloped in the tealblood’s grasp. He made care not to squish the little featherbeast as he sniffed just above her petite shoulder, drawing her into the hug. Perhaps Ganyma was too trusting. A child could do no wrong – and with greater leverage of context, Odette had essentially been cleared in his eyes. It was a naïve gamble that the soft tealblood played, but as he tightened his strong grip around her he began to feel more clarity in thought. A bleeding blood pusher was what kept danger around. It was how a soul like Luxara could attract the sort that evens dealings with betrayal. Ganyma’s thoughts wandered and soon he mumbled into Odette’s hair.

“I was nearly put to death twice, both times by members of your camp, once in an ambush and once by hunting trial. If you’re lookin' for revenge it’ll have to wait ‘til we find Didero’s lusus.” Ganyma was quiet.  

[zeflamigo]

"No!" Odette shouted, taking a step away from Ganyma. "There's children on both sides! I've seen it myself!" She took a shallow breath, biting back her tears. "It happens on both sides... the loss..." She choked out shakily, wanting to believe her words were true. But she couldn't. Even with Aendal, most of the kids got their lusii back. There was loss, but did it even begin compare to what the rebels had most recently suffered? No, she couldn't think that way. She would be expected to hold herself up as a leader, soon. The rebellion fought for hope... The wrigglers proved it.

Odette clenched her teeth as Ganyma recounted the events of that day. A familiar name graced her ears. Kursha. He was involved? No, he was following his orders. It wasn't his fault! But the kids... He hadn't thought of the children. Odette hiccuped. No, no, Kursha was an alright guy. He couldn't have.

"I don't- I don't believe you!" She argued, tone weakening. Ganyma was lying! He just trying to trick her. She stepped back, avoiding the tealblood's advances. He just wanted to steal her secrets, to have her betray her team!

“I’m so sorry. I’m sorry,”

The words knocked all of the energy out of Odette, body going limp in Ganyma's arms. She was quiet for a moment, and then she sobbed openly, the words replaying over in her head. I'm sorry. Words that she found so familiar to say, but all too rare to hear. Even if it was Ganyma's fault, even if he was a traitor, he cared enough to apologize. Odette dug her face into the tealblood's large shoulder, letting the last of her cries out.

His next words cut her hard, leaving her emotions spinning, like she was being played. Did what he say before mean anything at all? Odette fell quiet, not sure how to react. She took a breath and mumbled back, "I should have died that day..." She tried to push Ganyma away, a frown growing on her face. "That captain— she put enough toxin in me to kill a musclebeast." Her eyebrows furrowed, keeping a steady tone. "You left with her. To try and make things better? I can't believe that."

Still, she knew she couldn't persuade him off of this mission. She would just have to watch him carefully. She didn't trust him fully, but she trusted that he cared enough for children and lusii to not make a mess out of a rebel operation.  

[Sypon]

Ganyma let Odette separate and kept her in arm's length. "I did. There's nothin' I can do to make you trust me. The rest of the Phoenix Initiative sure don't. Ain't nothin' I can do about that."

He frowned and turned back to Didero, who had been neglected throughout their exchange. This was all a whirlwind of new information, of course - there simply wasn't enough time to get the words across. Ganyma bent down to look at him.

"But it's true. I'm not in the rebels any more. I can't trust them. The violence... The loss, you know... I think... I think there's a way to change the world, but..." Ganyma couldn't piece together the words to articulate. The rebellion was, in his experience a loose organization of mysterious figures. Who took the backseat to cannon fodder to achieve goals through force, under shady direction and passing notes. He left in duress and nearly paid for it, by the same trolls he had been allied with and had trusted. His friends. He still had some rebel connection - Luxara was still holding strong with him even though she had crossed over. There was no way Odette was going to understand, and Ganyma was out of his depth. Perhaps he could get through to Didero.

"It's not easy either way." He grimaced. Their situations were all grim; there was no doubt about it. He reached out for Didero's hand, hoping vaguely that he wouldn't be frightened off by Ganyma's change in allegiance. It wasn't important for saving his lusus, that was for damned sure. Warmth returned to Ganyma's tired eyes.  

[seekingCylem]

Ganyma’s embrace shocked the tears from Didero. He wiggled a little bit in the larger troll’s grip before settling his forehead against Ganyma’s shoulder. Only a few tears ended up falling from Didero. Ganyma seemed to be providing for both of them as the sobs shook Didero in his close proximity. The hug was bumpy and tight, but it was the most comfort Didero had received since his lusus had been taken.

On that note, Ganyma pulled away from Didero and kneeled before him, proclaiming his intent like a fairytale knight. Didero pressed his mouth together in a tight line. He wanted so badly to believe in Ganyma, but so much misfortune in Didero’s life had left him skeptical and afraid.

Odette wasn’t helping to temper Didero’s mental state. She and Ganyma began to shoot agonized words at each other too fast and too vague for Didero to follow. Ganyma had… betrayed Odette? The concept sounded absurd, but Odette was far too distraught for Didero to question her sincerity.

Ganyma explained the circumstances of the incident. Didero hadn’t heard the words Old Hemisect in a long time since the establishment of Civisect. He’d only known the barest of details through the newspapers—residents disgruntled by the construction and the odd lunatic protestor. Didero was realizing quickly this was a severe downplaying of what had occurred. Didero felt a bitter lack of surprise that the rebels failed as spectacularly as was being let on. No wonder they needed to rely on the efforts of children. His lusus had been right every step of the way. There was no point in putting oneself on the frontlines of the action. It only invited trouble. The rebels? Fools. The rebels dumb enough to do the Initiative’s dirty work? Most foolish of them all. Didero was sick with shame. As relieved as he was to no longer be in the Punishment Pits, he couldn’t help but recognize that his lusus was paying for mistakes that were entirely Didero’s. Life had gifted Didero with a comfortable blood color, good looks, monetary wealth, a competent lusus, everything that would have given him a safe and easy life, and he’d brushed it all aside. And for what? A footnote in the evening paper’s police blotter about a foiled breaking and entering in Chittentown.

As much as he wasn’t feeling it at that particular moment, Didero knew he was better than this. He had to prove it—just one last time.

Didero didn’t notice he’d been staring down at the floor until Ganyma turned back to get his attention. The harsh exchange between him and Odette had finally ceased, leaving the room still tense, but at least quiet. Didero uneasily looked Ganyma in the eye, only to flick his gaze down as Ganyma took his hand.

”I…” Didero croaked, ”I just want my lusus back. I promise I won’t make trouble anymore. I’m sorry. I promise.”