[b]November:[/b]

Singh’s about one step away from heartbroken. “If that’s what you need.” He pauses. “I know it’s been a long time, but I was hoping you wouldn’t…” Wouldn’t what? [i]Wouldn’t what?[/i] “How about this? I’m going to [i]predict[/i] what you think I’m involved with. If my explanation sounds correct to you, we don’t talk about this in terms of [i]leverage[/i] or [i]mutual compromise[/i]. I want to talk over the baby pictures. Otherwise, well… We’ll do things your way. If you’re in any danger, I want to help.” One step from heartbroken, and that’s the step. But some things might be more important. Prove that you don't trust him, and he’ll live. For all you know, the reason he doesn’t have a bomb in his brain is because he’s the one giving the orders.

He starts fiddling through his own pockets, taking everything out and putting it back in again after feeling what they are with his hands. He scrunches his nose to fix his glasses higher up. 

“Someone, somewhere, has my name in a ledger you weren’t supposed to see. I’m a person in a little black book with a totenkampf on the cover, or the digital equivalent? And now you’re worried that might mean we’re [i]friends[/i]. Or co-conspirators.” He shakes his head. “Think that someone, somewhere has an old book that only lists you as a BlackSun asset. But that’s not how I think of you, is it?”

He wasn’t there when you got sold out, [i]if[/i] you got sold out. BlackSun couldn’t get rid of him fast enough, after the acquisition. They didn’t even give him a chance to explain what was happening. 

[i]The Zodiac were released in batches, one-to-three at a time. Each one was a response to the flaws of their older siblings. Corrections and overcorrections. That meant each older sibling’s eccentricities were often the personality quirks that younger siblings were taught to find grating.[/i]

[i]“It’s going to feel like they’re doing everything wrong,” Singh brushed the side of the cubesat with the back of his fingers. Snake’s body had been made in orbit, was waiting for her there. “And they'll probably feel that way about you, too. But if you trust them before you feel like they deserve it, they’re going to feel how special that trust is, and they won’t want to lose it. That might be enough for them to try to explain themselves to you, in their own way. They'll care what you think.” [/i]

[i]Lorraine Ferris looked up from her tablet, each checkbox flashing green. “The older siblings who don't self-isolate always seem to want to show off. You think this might anchor them to trying to be responsible, instead of ‘cool’?”[/i]

[i]Singh sighed. “I just want it to be true.” [/i]

[b]Persephone: [/b]

Piper is clearly already exhausted by you. “I’ve seen your work with the Anthropozine, so I know what you’re capable of. But I hope you’re willing to act more professional than what I’ve come to expect. You came here to [i]pick fights[/i]?” Your reaction isn’t fast enough. It couldn’t be, she assumed your answer before she asked the question, and now she looks even more exhausted. “Wonderful. If I had any other options, I would.” 

Priyah giggles from her cluttered cave. So she can hear this at least. For what it's worth, it sounds like it's at Piper's expense. 

“Listen. This is my ‘one for them’. I’m not willing to be your collateral damage.” Piper goes to the desk to grab some things from the drawers. Two ID lanyards, yours already made up for you. An earpiece. A keyring for herself, and one for you. Yours only has two, hers is big enough to crack a coconut with. “The black one is for the office. The silver one is for the equipment shed on-site. Everything you need should be in there. If you want to go anywhere else, you go with me.” 

Pain in the ass. Maybe the sheer size of the ring means you could slip one out without her noticing it missing, but that would mean knowing in advance which one you want to take. And it doesn’t look like she’s inclined to explain it.

“We start now.” She’s one foot out the door already. “Get what you need, then find me at the pavilion within the hour.”

The pavilion is the ‘beauty contest’ portion of the races. It’s like the staging for the concept cars that would never be street legal, but the cars are all prestige zoo exhibits. It’s where the VIPs go between events to drink champagne and wear the fancy little hats with the pins in them.