Harvey told them what he had decided. When Eurydice protested, Harvey's glare was so thick it muted her voice. Faris refined the speech. They agreed, he and Harvey, that Faris would deliver it. He did it in the same recall he gave Harvey, pretending to report.

The others chimed in when asked. Gale had a hit the boy, but not first period Titus had run into a tree along the way. Norbu distracted the girl, so only Gale, Faris and Norbu were seen. Everybody else had waited at the farm. Some hid inside the house, crawling under the sofa and dragging dust on their clothes. No one had gone upstairs. No one had hit another delinquent. Any damage was minimized.

As they finally finish, Benji leans forward. His elbows dig into his knees, forearms exposing his freckles. He searches the faces of all the delinquents. Cosmia digs her fingers into the plush fabric of her seat, afraid of what he'll find.

"You both feeling okay?" Benji looks between the two injured men. "There's a physician a ways over. I can ring him and get him here by morning."

Titus doesn't move. It's his first broken nose, but not his first lesson learned with a fist. His whole life he craved knowledge. Taking over his father's business meant learning from him. As much as Eurydice decries the Silvers, she has a similar teaching method. Long ago, Titus learned on important thing. Certainty comes with satisfaction, even if it's hard to see behind his swollen face.

"I'm okay," Gale reaches his hand up, feathering his split lip. His wince is so familiar. The way the sound pulls in his chest and then pinches in the back of his mouth. He could recite it like any nursery rhyme.

"I'll make tea anyway," Benji murmurs. "Anyone else who wants any is welcome to stay. We'll take the whole day off tomorrow. As thanks for your honesty."

Then, Benji steps out of the room.

Eurydice storms out. Norbu is still about to speak but then Harvey is rushing after her.

Norbu shoots Cosmia and Faris each a glance, "another puzzle?"

~~~

The night air is wet. Dampness feels like home, and Eurydice stops just off the porch to feel it. She counts the dissimilarities. It's not like Neo Elysium. The stench of oil, lingering from her motorcycle pollutes those streets. It's too quiet here. She sleeps better in The Sticks than in The Arch, daring to lie with Zephyr. Somehow, the farm is even worse. The music Benji plays isn't the kind that possesses her to dance. It's sunny and hot, somehow even at night.

Harvey comes up behind her. She's always hyperaware. Fale's home and crime are on her lips when her leg is torn out from under her. She slams into the dirt. Eurydice pushes her hands to lift herself up and then the bottom of Harvey's cane is pressing against her spine, pinning her into the dirt.

"Harvey," she grits her teeth against the hum of pain in her jaw. "Get that fucking thing-"

Above her, Harvey shifts his weight, pressing down on the cane. Strangled air sucks in through her lips.

Her back is to him. At the sound of her pain, in the darkness of the farmhouse with everyone inside, he permits himself to close his eyes. Tears, cold and wet, blink in his eyelashes.

"I've never killed anyone before," his voice is harder than the dirt below her. "Some people think it makes me soft, but I've never needed to do it. Dead bodies are so stiff. They aren't particularly chatty either. I like my people more pliable, with open mouths. Do we understand each other?"

He releases slightly. No weight on his cane, he stands on his throbbing leg, holding himself off her. It would be easier to press down.

Eurydice slams herself up and Harvey forces his hand back, returning the pressure to her back. She smashes into the dirt, biting her tongue. Harvey kneels on her ribs, digging in deeper. His face shakes as he holds in a breath. This is a six out of ten. If Rhiannon Rose wanted to know, he'd tell her.

Eurydice gasps for air. Clockwork cannot pull back.

"If you break into the farmer's rooms, we will be sent back," Harvey sighs, masquerading the release of air. "Now, if I'm going to Medfack for a murder I didn't commit... well, let's just say I'll have fewer qualms about a stay in Medfack for a murder I am guilty of committing."

He lets Eurydice go, pulling to his shaky feet. Her lungs burn. She coughs and coughs. Rolling onto her back, she watches Harvey walk away. Her head brims with words but the coughs stopper her mouth. She can't see his face, can't pull herself onto her feet to demand he look back at her.

His face, obscured in shadow, is red and ripe. A threat is nothing without follow-through. They both know that. Harvey's leg doesn't hinder his swing. He wishes it would. A physical weakness, while mortifying, feels surmountable.

Rather than go back inside the farmhouse, and drink stupid tea with the idiot farmer, Eurydice picks herself up. She goes to the cabin and showers. It's impossible to see in the mirror of the bathroom, but she feels along her spine, wincing when she gets to the spot Harvey's cane claimed her skin. A flagpole on unchartered land. She scowls.

When the others come back in the evening, weary and quiet, she is happy no one tries to talk to her.

Weekends are more theirs than other days. There is still a schedule, still some chores which need to be done, but they never take more than an hour. Today, Norbu expected to join Faris and Harvey in the kitchen. Their first weekend, Benji and Harvey had sat in the kitchen and created a plan for meals during the week, and Benji had gone out to purchase the items. Now, no one is in the kitchen.

Norbu starts to cook.

Only one of the cookbooks was commandeered by Faris. Norbu stole another and flipped through it for a minute, but reading has always given him headaches. He steals some dough from the oven and starts to knead. Only once does he slip out of the room, to steal the radio from the lounge and bring it back in.

Norbu is humming along to a song when someone steps in the room.

He glances over his shoulder, "Gale! How's the lip?"

Leaning against the sink, Gale touches his lip. It is swollen, more so than yesterday, but the tape has held him in place.

"Good," Gale pours himself a glass of water. "Uhh, I wanted to thank you, Norbu. For yesterday. I think that kid would've kicked my ass."

"No, look at you," Norbu leans back, a smile on his cheeks. He rubs his dry hands on his apron. "You're in my weight class. I mean, I could take you, but that's because I'm me. Here, come put your strong arms to use."

Gale chokes on the water. Norbu starts to laugh.

"What are you doing?" Gale asks.

"It's not going to be good," Norbu shrugs. "It's a recipe my parents make. Thenthuk, it's a soup but – well, we can only afford to make it once a year, cost of fresh ingredients is too much, and my parents always say it's not really real since a lot of the ingredients just don't grow or exist anymore. But, I like it."

Norbu takes Gale's hands, and shoves them in the flour, physically moving his knuckles to show him how to knead the dough.

It only takes a minute, but Norbu steps back and starts to work on the broth on the stove.

"Soup?" Gale swallows, his mouth dry again. "I really... Thenthuk? Am I saying that right?"

"Kind of," Norbu says. "It's from Tibet. My family lived there, then moved to the MFZ and then wound up in Leth. Not sure if Tibet still exists anymore physically, but so long as we're alive it's alive, you know?"

Gale doesn't know, "what part of Leth?"

"West," Norbu says.

"Southwest," Gale offers. He clears his throat. "I uhh... sorry, I don't know about Tibet. My parents pulled me out of school when I was ten for the factory."

"I made it to eight," Norbu grins. "They said I was an idiot. Can't pronounce my Rs, but I'm sure you've noticed. Can't read without my glasses, barely can read with them. But I can't be stupid, since I can remember this recipe. I remember everything."

Gale smiles, a bit, "well, I... you can... I don't know a lot about the world. Basically nothing about anywhere that isn't Neo Elysium or any history at all. So if you ever, well if you wanted to-"

"Tell you about Tibet?" Norbu bounces on the balls of his feet. "In an hour, Hatcher, you're going to regret ever offering me that deal."

And while they cook, Norbu tells Gale everything he knows about the world. About Buddhism and Tibet and the old world. About superhero comics and records, and how he could have joined his father at the spare parts store, but Norbu knew that to make family recipes, restore records and buy old comics, he'd need more credits. And Flage is his, with its fighting rings and its partying rich kids, so that the past can be Norbu's too.

And after an hour, while they are doing dishes and about to invite everyone in to try the soup, which Norbu says would be better if they had fish oil or soy sauce or something ancient and wonderful, Gale doubts he could ever regret listening to Norbu speak.

~~~

Lunch was tense as tense as the puzzle the previous night. Faris has had about enough of it. On their days off, people hide inside. So, it takes a clever hand and sweet-talking Calath to finally get her alone.

Cosmia taps her foot on the ground outside of the shed. Time is relatively meaningless here. In Neo Elysium, it matters. Whistles in factories, punching in and out. The days are barely brighter than the nights, marked only by clocks in every room of every house. Here, there is a grandfather clock made of wood, which chimes hourly. It can only be heard inside that room. So, Cosmia shouldn't be surprised that Calath isn't here. Even though they said they'd be.

Cosmia tries the door once again to the shed. It's locked tightly.

Faris leaves their little shared hovel and starts to walk toward her. Cosmia crosses her arms.

"You know where that damn Benjamin Mullins is?" Cosmia calls out. "Since you're always riding his dick."

"Good afternoon to you too," Faris chuckles, low enough that she can only hear the mumble of words as he approaches.

Cosmia plants her hands on her hips. She's gotten better at shoving things in the dirt lately, so it should be no surprise she even roots into the ground on her day off.

"That wasn't an invitation," Cosmia's words cut toward him.

Faris offers a small smile, "I have something I think you'll want."

"Is it a key to this shed?" Cosmia turns back to the shed, stiffening her body. "If not, I'm not interested. You can go."

Faris' skin feels tight. It's not atypical, the sun's unrelenting advance on his skin has caused cracks. Trench warfare, Norbu joked last night. In the greenery, Faris usually blooms. Now, he makes an effort to shrink his shoulders in.

"I know you know I was charged with human trafficking," Faris looks at her. "I also want you to know I didn't do it. I was framed by a mark, who actually was human trafficking."

She doesn't turn around. He has all the reason to lie, and though Cosmia usually considers herself an excellent judge of character, he is Ace. Maybe Faris here, playing puzzles and asking Norbu questions, but he still presses his body into the counters of the kitchen, whispering to Harvey.

Even Ace wasn't a bad guy though. A bastard, full of himself, not the kind of man who would stand idle in a field chatting without a person. Not the kind of person who would thank the farmer for dinner unless it served an express purpose. Cosmia can sing well enough, but she doesn't play any instruments. Faris would know how to pluck a guitar, make any woman chirp.

But human trafficking. Even Ace wouldn't do it.

So, she shrugs, "my terrorism charge was overblown too. The rest were accurate though."

Faris grins down at her. Nothing twitches in her face. He sees how she lights up under starlight, how her head twists whenever a bird tweets in the air. She can pretend to be hard, but there is Cosmia beneath Nightingale. He has yet to lure her out. Maybe it's better Nightingale believes him than Cosmia. It is easier to see her that way, with ruby hair poking out beneath, with teeth that finally look sharp when her jaws are about to close over you.

"I'd expect nothing less," Faris smiles. "After all, embezzlement, fraud, OC, that's all me baby."

He sticks out his hands. Her mouth twists into a grimace but she shakes it.

~~~

No one is in the mood for a bonfire except Rhiannon Rose, but Benji wasn't there, and he promised her a bonfire. She brings it up at dinner. Benji drops his fork for a second. He saw the pit. She must know he moved away the burnt ashes, cleaned up the wood that was leftover. Then, he shrugs.

His mother had a rule when they were children. Don't say no unless you have to. It seems odd, and it definitely is not the way any other children up in the mines were raised. Parents croaking out nos through their black lungs. They were lucky enough to hear yes.

So, Benji doesn't really feel like sitting out in the cold, but he agrees.

That is how he and Rhiannon Rose end up at the fire pit that night. Cosmia comes outside too, staring up at the stairs. Titus joins in, mostly so he can watch Harvey sit on the dirt outside their shack, watching him.

They haven't spoken, and his gaze still hasn't slipped.

"You mentioned maybe taking us into the city," Titus breaks the silence.

Benji looks away from Cosmia to see Titus.

"The trading post?" Benji smiles a bit. "I mean, I wouldn't call it a city. It services everybody who works for the Lord. Transport guys are probably in for the fruiter, but other than Jeremiah don't expect anyone around. You looking to meet people?"

Titus shakes his head. He leans in on his elbows, "my father's a landlord. Out in Neo Elysium. He doesn't own any property out here. I figured maybe I'd be able to see what this place is like."

Benji stiffens. He presses his hands into his knees and stands up.

"Lord, huh?" Benji folds his arms over his chest.

Rhiannon Rose doesn't look away from the fire. Cosmia turns to him. Her eyes trace the freckles on his arms before they finally meet his green eyes. They don't leave Titus, pouring down into him. Benji runs a hand through his dark brown hair before pulling his arms in close to his chest.

"Don't buy land out here," Benji's throat is too tight. "We've got nothing to offer you."

"Not buying land," Titus feels his throat close. He just needs to watch Benji drive his truck. If he can see it, maybe he can tinker his way around something that doesn't have a power-on button. There was a keyhole, and Titus has never heard of anyone with a key who wasn't a criminal. Even East Leth has keypads; the Silvers own enough homes to know what they can expect.

"Forget it," Benji turns away, forcing himself from the fire.

Cosmia watches him leave. The fire is hot in front of her, and the stars feel dimmer up above. She smiles, deciding to bring the bad news to Norbu and Faris that any excursions they have hoped for are gone, thanks to the Silver.

Then, it is just Rhiannon Rose and Titus around the fire.

"I'd stop mentioning that you're from The Arch."

Rhiannon Rose glances at him briefly. He reclines in his chair now that Benji is gone. Rhiannon Rose is on the edge of her seat. The fire is so close it might burn off her eyelashes. It's not enough, but nothing ever is. It's damn close.

Titus huffs out a sigh, looking up at the sky.

"Do you remember Caius?"

She turns her back to the fire, lets it warm all of her. She casts a shadow on the farmhouse, fuzzy outline of a girl. Black, no red, and it doesn't feel like her. She turns her face to Titus.

"Who?"

"Come on," Titus shakes his head. "Quit pretending you don't remember me."

She does, but she doesn't like to admit it. Caius was older than Rhiannon Rose and a year younger than her brother Victor. They were friends, long ago. Rhiannon Rose's mother didn't like it. No good would come from Armitage and Silvers spending time together. Victor was the third child, so no heir required, but she thinks the Armitages would sooner turn to become inbred royals of the olden days before consorting with new money Silvers.

"Oh, I don't remember you," she says. "I remember Caius though. He'd come over before he disappeared."

"He didn't disappear," Titus cuts through. "He left."

Rhiannon Rose rolls her eyes, "do you think wherever he is, he mentions being from the Arch all the time? Do you think it ingratiates the people in MFZ?"

Titus closes his eyes. She swears his eyes become grey. They already are enhanced, sparkling and shimmering in even the dimmest of light. The fire dulls them, somehow. Nothing is as glorious in its light.

"I think it's foolish to pretend you and I are anything without our family's money," Titus says. "Even our parents are nothing without their money. If I don't say I'm from The Arch, I have no value. Although, I don't suppose I need to use the words. You can tell, just by looking at me. Modifications like mine aren't cheap. And everyone can see The Arch in you, Rhiannon Rose, despite your feral name. The way you laze about, letting Faris do all your farmwork. At least I acknowledge the silver spoon. What value do you bring anyone here, outside of providing an opportunity for others to practice basic medicine every time you faint?"

She twists her head back to the fire. Titus doesn't hang around, not that she would notice.

~~~

On the early hours of Sunday morning, Kae hangs in the doorway of the shed. Calath is inside, rummaging through the tools. The chickens are clucking and awake, and hopefully no one will notice Kae if they come by. She presses herself against one of the barn walls. After watching the spiders crawl about, she doesn't dare venture in deeper, not even to call Calath's name a second time.

Then, Calath steps out. She wipes her forehead, sweat and grease smearing across it. They are out of the shed, but heat holds in the walls so tightly. Calath looks at Kae, sizing her up.

"Cosmia send you?" she huffs. "I'm almost ready to start the irrigation system."

Kae twists her head, "sorry?"

Calath beams. Her tirade begins, clattering words tumbling out of her mouth and vibrating the wooden walls. Kae stands and listens to Calath, as she spreads her arms wide, and maps in the air the pipes, pinpointing blockages and explaining where she is going to reinforce them and how, and then the watering will be functional once more. By the end of this week, if she has her way.

"So, tell Cosmia I'm almost ready," Calath finishes, unaware that twenty-six minutes have ticked by. Both of them are.

Kae shoves her hand into the front of her coveralls, "Cosmia didn't send me. I came for you."

Calath's cheeks burn with heat. She's lucky blush doesn't show on her deep skin.

Kae pulls out the broken lockpicking tools, "I need you to fix these before Eurydice asks me to start working again."

With that, Calath shrugs, "tell her Harvey caught you, and you want her to protect her. She likes you."

Then, Kae shoves her hands in her pockets, "I'm not... I'm not just doing it because I'm afraid of her."

Calath turns around, returning to looking for a tool. She disappears behind a stack, and Kae swallows as she forces herself in further. There are cobwebs. Kae had never seen a real bug before coming here. Cockroaches of course, but no one can get rid of cockroaches. She's never been to the docks, rumours of flies swarming the surface coming off shipments from North Marcanty but dying days after arriving in Neo Elysium. There were spiders in here though, she saw them. There might even be a rat. She barely can handle the chickens.

She thumbs her bracelet, holding her butterfly charm tightly. It's a bug, technically. Her mother gave it to her. Her mother had said butterflies were the sirens of the air. It shouldn't bring her comfort. It should stop her from stealing. Kae let her father use up all the luck of her charms.

"Calath, please-"

"You can't break in," Calath finally says.

Kae stops, barely able to see her. Calath doesn't seem to mine. They duck their head deeper into something. Eye contact has never helped them hear sounds. If anything else it seems to buzz, a low hum, like neon signs.

"I can't yet, but if you helped me, I could."

Calath sighs. Genius has its limits, "the lock's reinforced. I wasn't a lockpick back in Neo Elysium, but I helped make a few for the Flattners before I got out. I think it's a five lever lock, maybe reinforced in other ways. Same kind of shit you'd find in The Arch, but without a keypad."

Kae blinks, looking over, "isn't that weird?"

"It's his office door, I think," Calath shrugs. "The one on his front door isn't even that nice. If I had to suggest a reason, I'd imagine the Lord paid for the installation. There's likely confidential documents, and we have to have at least thirty charges combined."

"You are a genius," Kae whispers the words.

Calath smiles, "maybe. If you want to find something weird, figure out why he only employs refugees who can't speak. Now that's weird."

~~~

From in his office, Benji peaks out the window. It is a quiet afternoon. The receiver end of the phone is pressed into his ear as he listens to Holly Lee's crackling voice. He should have visited her in person, maybe with the best of his crop, but this will have to do.

"I know, Holly Lee," Benji bends over the desk and grabs a pen. He starts to scrawl on one of the scrap papers. "Listen, I'm not Jeremiah, right? Whatever Lottie said happened-"

He is cut off as the old woman's voice cuts in again. It's a miracle she even can hear him. He would have gone in person, if he wasn't drowning in paperwork. All week away from it and it hasn't ended. If it was approved by his boss, Benji would just have Faris come help him.

He shakes away the thought. Benji is the manager. It's his farm, no matter what. It has to be.

"Right," Benji sighs. "I have been meaning to invite people over, but I know city folk can scare some people. Not you of course, Holly Lee?"

She babbles back, and he smiles. Out of all the people, he maybe likes Holly Lee the best. He certainly fears her the most. Felly and Mark are uptight and won't alternate the grain quota with him. Jeremiah's a gossip, Ronnie and Ronny are stranger than any Elysite, and Katie and Bobby are so cheery it's upsetting.

"So, two weeks may-" she cuts him off mid-sentence and Benji sighs. "Saturday then. This Saturday. I hear you, Holly Lee. My workers will be in their Sunday best. On Saturday. Yep."

She starts to say her goodbyes. Benji half-listens, half-whispers goodbye. He hangs up and then grabs the note. He sticks it to the corkboard and starts to leave the room. The note on the wall is underlined twice.

Community Dinner. Invite Emma.

~~~~~

Cute. Fun and stuff, I think. As always, let me know what you think! Some of the interactions are really starting to excite me!