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"We can just text each other," Jason commented, but he was already grabbing a light jacket, ready to head out. Their mom was already asleep and wouldn't wake up even if a fire alarm went off. Which hopefully one wouldn't while they were out. Or while they were in school. He frowned to himself even as they made their way out into the night.

"We should convince Mom to get a dog. A big one, to keep the house safe while we're at school."

Over the past few weeks they'd both become more familiar with this area, it's nicer rooftops, and it's...well, less sketchy parks.

"So we just go to space and look for magic jewelry?" Jason side-eyed Luke with a teasing grin.

Yeah, but a dog would probably be less trouble and more likable than us, Jason thought to himself. And kept the thought to himself. In all honesty, he'd always been keenly aware that they well, kind of ruined their mom's life. Not intentionally! He wasn't that much of an irrational sadsack. But he knew their mom had intended to leave Bailey for bigger things and see the world. And instead she ended up a young mother of two before she could realize it. And soon enough became a single mother of two, even worse.

It hurt to think about because it sucked and because it was true, even if their mom did love them and didn't regret having them, facts were facts. So it was better to think about magically going to space and picking out their knightly engagement rings.

"That's a good plan," he finally replied, for once not hedging his words to Luke with sarcasm or even light teasing.

"I've been feeling a like, nagging sort of feeling each time we power up. Is that it?"

Halle's nose wrinkled at the phrase recite this little verse.

He frowned at from the heart.

And by the time Lisse had finished reciting the f-fudgebucket of an oath (an oath!!) Halle's expression was downright ugly.

"I pledge my life and loyalty? To whatever the heck Lysithea is? And to LisseI humbly request your aid, so that in return I may give you mine?" Of course, this didn't get him anywhere. The only thing coming from the heart over those words was anger and caution.

"You're expecting an awful lot, you know?!" Alone in the dark, he called up to the sky. "I'm aware that Halle is me...or my whatever special place? But what's Lysithea? What do I owe them?! Haven't you ever heard of informed consent! Because you having been informing and I've never been given a chance to consent. Like one time, sure. Two times, though, is a really gross f...freaking problem!"

What followed was a good fifteen minutes of talking and pacing. Stopping and crouching with his head in hands. A tree was punched, and then he was crouching in pain, this time cradling his hands. This was, he knew, a situation he couldn't fight. Lisse had already just, made that oath and disappeared off to space. And maybe his brother didn't think as far or as seriously about things like oaths and responsibilities as Halle did. But that didn't mean that the oath wouldn't take Luke's word and bind him up with magic to make sure he kept it. Forever.

And Halle couldn't leave him alone with that. It was inevitable that he'd make the oath, with all the gravity and burden that a magic oath was meant to represent. Unclenching his jaw, he recited, "“I pledge my life and loyalty to Lysithea, and to Halle. I humbly request your aid, so that in return I may give you mine."

It was almost enraging, how right it felt to say the words. And then he, too, was gone.