Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Nine: ‘The Leech’s gambit ...’

It had been an uncomfortable week. Roman Fullister from Atreya liked to consider himself an adaptable man, but his time spent traveling with this Leo from Lava Base had made him reevaluate a great many things.

The journey here to Capaporo had been quiet enough. Leo was rather chatty during it, but so could Roman be, when he wanted to. No, the trouble arose after they got here, when the Rainlords arrived.

Leo had neglected to mention what he had planned for them, and looking back on it now, Roman knew that Leo had indeed planned it all along. At the time, it had seemed like a spur of the moment thing, an impulsive and unprovoked decision, but not anymore.

It hadn’t helped that the Rainlords weren’t particularly friendly during their encounter. A reaper by the name of Mevox had been especially prickly, as it sounded like Mevox knew something about Leo and didn’t like him as a result. Roman hadn’t gotten the chance to find out what that was, precisely, and even now, he was reluctant to have Voreese go and try to do so in his stead. He wanted to keep her as far away from Leo as he could, at least until he was reasonably confident that the man wouldn’t simply snap and go on a killing spree.

He was doubtful that such a time would ever come, however. Sure, Leo was amiable enough towards him, but would he be that way towards Voreese? Or worse, would she provoke him?

Probably. It was Voreese, after all.

Yeah, he’d probably made the right call in not letting the two of them meet. Better safe than exploded into meaty chunks, he figured.

“Tell me something,” said Roman as he mulled over the cards in his hand. He already had three fives, and they hadn’t even started guessing yet. “And be honest with me.”

Leo sat across the steely table from him, observing his own cards. “Yeah?”

“Do you really think that Sai-hee will forgive you? I mean, I know how you feel about negativity, but just--seriously, do you think your plan is going to work?”

“What kind of idiot would I be if I were tryin’ a plan that I didn’t think was going to work?”

A desperate one, Roman wanted to say. “What if she doesn’t, though? I know you said she hates the Rainlords, but handing them over to her as an apology gift... what if she just decides to kill them and then you, too?”

Leo was quiet a moment. Then he looked Roman in the eye and said, “Do you have any twos?”

“Go fish.”

“Tsk.” Leo grabbed a card off the top of the deck.

“Answer my question,” said Roman.

Leo flattened his lips together and kept his eyes on his cards. “It ain’t just about getting her forgiveness, man. It’s about getting Ericoros’, too. And there ain’t no way he’s gonna agree to not release my soul unless I go back to workin’ for her.”

“Why do you say that?” said Roman. “How do you know that your reaper wouldn’t allow you to simply do something else with your time?”

“Because,” said Leo with a sigh, “Ericoros is one of those types. You know the ones.”

Roman tilted his head. “I do?”

“Yeah, man. One of those super dutiful loyalists. Really believes in the mission ‘n whatnot.”

“Hmm. Do you have have any fives?”

“Go fish.”

Roman drew a king from the deck and frowned. “And what is ‘the mission’ that Ericoros believes in so strongly?”

“The usual. Y’know. Protecting the Old Law. And the people in our territory. Or her territory, I guess. Never felt like I belonged, personally.”

“Why not?”

“Everyone was just way too relaxed, man.”

Roman couldn’t stop himself from squinting and flattening his lips. “You didn’t get along with them because they were too relaxed,” he said, wanting to make sure he’d heard correctly.

“Yeah, man, I know. This was before I chilled out a little bit. I was a real square back then.”

Roman was having trouble picturing that.

“I mean, I’d always wanted to let loose, y’know? Be myself. Or try to, at least, since I didn’t really know who I was, know what I’m sayin’?”

“I... guess? What changed?”

“Nothin’, really. But also everything, y’know?”

Roman didn’t.

“One day, I just woke up and realized that I hated my life. So I made a change.”

“And Ericoros didn’t like that, huh?”

“Hmm? Oh, no, Ericoros was fine with it. This was ages ago. We didn’t start having our disagreements until way later. Eri was very supportive during that whole process of reinventin’ myself. He knew I’d been miserable for a long time and was tryin’ to help me work through it.” Leo’s eyes glazed over as he observed his cards. “Great guy, my Eri. Really great...”

Roman just waited.

“That’s why I gotta make it up to him proper-like. I did him dirty.”

“...So this isn’t just about making it so that Ericoros won’t release your soul, then.”

Leo looked up at him but didn’t say anything.

“Ah--I just mean, you actually want his forgiveness,” said Roman.

“Course I do, man. What kinda question is that?”

Roman raised a hand defensively. “Didn’t mean to offend.”

Leo wasn’t letting go, though. The man’s eyes narrowed, and Roman felt an all too familiar pressure surrounding him. “You think I don’t have feelings ‘r somethin’, big cat?”

Roman would’ve very much liked to not answer that, but that wasn’t an option, apparently. “Well, uh... it’s just--ergh--I did hear you murder a man and his reaper in cold blood, so...”

The pressure let up, and Leo set his cards face down on the table. “Yeah, but I--that wasn’t... ah...” Leo took a long, slow breath while he rubbed his forehead. “I really screwed up this time, didn’t I...?”

Well, it was at least a step in the right direction that the man was showing signs of remorse, Roman thought. And there was also the possibility that Leo hadn’t been himself when he’d killed those two. Assuming that what the man had said about someone messing with his head wasn’t complete horseshit, then an argument could certainly be made that, deep down, Leo was a nice guy.

And of course, Roman wasn’t wholly averse to working with murderers, either. He’d done it many times before while honing his craft as a procurer of things that didn’t belong to him.

Still, Roman preferred to know what he was getting himself into, whenever possible. And all things considered, this guy was quite the confused mess, right now. To Roman’s mind, a conflicted and unstable killer was probably an even worse companion to have than a killer who was truly cold and calculating.

Roman wasn’t quite sure what to say to him now, though. Leo looked like he could use some words of comfort or encouragement, but providing either of those seemed like a very bad idea. That was basically how he’d gotten himself into this mess in the first place.

‘Oh shit!’ came Voreese’s private words from wherever she was. ‘I sense Hector! Oh, and Garovel, too! Those wonderful pricks are finally here!’

Roman stopped himself from reacting in front of Leo, who was picking up his cards again to resume the game.

It was good news, of course, and Roman had certainly been wondering where the hell they were, but after witnessing how Leo handled the Rainlords, Roman had also felt a bit of relief that Hector wasn’t around to get caught up in this mess. So now he was conflicted. It might’ve been better if Hector had just never showed up at all.

‘How close are they to my position?’ said Roman.

‘Not very. They’re pretty far from you. I’ma go talk to ‘em.’

‘Tell them to keep their distance for now.’

‘Oh, I’m gonna tell them all sorts of stuff. Like how you screwed us all by making friends with a fucking deluded psychopath.’

‘It’s not my fault! And he’s not a psychopath!’

‘Sure he isn’t.’

“Got any eights, big cat?” said Leo.

Roman handed the eight of clubs to him. For the time being, he supposed he should just focus on keeping Leo busy while the others came up with a plan. Roman did have a plan of his own, sort of, but he’d been very reluctant to take it any further.

According to Leo, getting in contact with Sai-hee was going to take several more days still, so Roman had been procrastinating while he tried to come up with an alternative plan. Not that he had much confidence in this one. He just didn’t want to offer Leo a job unless he absolutely had to. It was bad enough that the man already seemed determined to do him a “favor” as a friend. Roman wasn’t looking to make this situation permanent.

“So, uh...” Roman was struggling for a subject. He knew he didn’t want to guess a card yet, because the longer the game went on, the easier it would be to keep Leo distracted.

“Yeah?”

“Oh, ah, I... I was just wondering about something you mentioned just now. You said that you never felt like you fit in with Sai-hee’s people because they were too relaxed, but then you said that you eventually became more relaxed yourself, right?”

“Mmhmm.”

“And you’ve been like that for a while now, haven’t you?”

“Yuh.”

That meant yes, right? “So, then... did you still not feel like you belonged even after you changed?”

“Totally.”

“...I don’t know if that answers my question.”

“Yeah, man, I still felt totally out of place, even then.”

“Why?”

“Because, man... it’s like... those people, I mean. Dude. I’m talking about the normal people who live in the Peacemaker’s territory. Not the folks who work for her. They’re different. The normal people, the non-servants, they’re the ones who are just... insufferable, I think is the word I’m lookin’ for.”

“How do you mean?”

Leo gestured absentmindedly with one hand, revealing his cards without apparently realizing it. “They’re just, y’know--they live in some of the calmest and most well-protected places in the world. And yo, there’s, like, a big difference between relaxing because you’re trying to enjoy your life and relaxing because you just don’t want to contribute. To anything. Ever.

“And then ON TOP OF THAT, they’re so elitist about it, too! As if they’ve accomplished anything! As if they’ve done anything to deserve their easy lives!” Leo shook his head and exhaled a heavy breath. “It was like they’re just determined to be unhappy, y’know? Even when everything is just handed to them, and they barely have to work at all, they don’t appreciate it, man. Most privileged people you ever did see, I swear. Drove me straight up crazy, sometimes.”

“Yeah, that sounds pretty irritating,” said Roman. “Maybe that’s your main problem, then.”

“Hmm? My main problem?”

“It’s gotta be tough to get invested in the goal of protecting a bunch of people you don’t care very much about. Maybe if you explained that to Ericoros, you could come to some sort of an arrangement and look for a new type of work. Something that you both find fulfilling.”

Leo returned a doubtful look.

“Got any sevens?” Roman knew that he did. He’d glimpsed one when Leo showed his hand.

Sure enough, Leo handed him the seven of diamonds. “You make it sound so easy...”

“Not saying it will be. Might take years to convince him. But you’re a servant. You’ve obviously got the time to spare.”

“I don’t think time will be the problem, big cat. You know how stubborn reapers are, right?”

“I most certainly do.”

“Then I don’t need to explain,” said Leo. “Eri is up there with the best of ‘em, man. Or the worst, I guess. However you wanna look at it.”

“Okay, but that doesn’t mean it’s truly impossible to convince him. Why don’t you tell me a little about him? Maybe I can help you find a solution.”

Leo blinked dully. “You... you would really try to help me like that?”

“Of course! What do you think I’ve been doing?”

“...I think you’ve been trying to keep me preoccupied while your reaper works on something,” said Leo.

Roman kept his face perfectly still for a moment. Then he feigned confusion. “What? Why would you think that?”

“Just a feeling. Call it paranoia, if ya like.”

“Maybe I will,” said Roman. “I’ve been enjoying our game quite a bit. It’s been ages since I was able to sit down and play cards with someone like this.”

“Mm. Got any fives?”

“SHIT!” He slapped his three fives down on the table. “Didn’t I just ask you for fives?! You’re not cheating, are you?!”

“Nah, bruh. Pulled it from the deck just now. I swear.”

“Tch...”

Leo took the cards with a faint smile and set them aside with his own five, completing the collection and scoring a point for himself. “You seem a little stressed, big cat. It’s just a game, y’know.”

“Easy to say that when you’re winning. Do you have any jacks?”

“Go fish.”

Roman grumbled as he grabbed the topmost card off the deck. It was the ace of spades.

“You one of them super competitive types?” said Leo.

“Maybe. That a problem?”

“Nah, just--I mean, if it means that much to you, I can just let you win.”

“No, don’t do that! That’d be even worse than losing!”

“Ya sure? It really doesn’t make much difference to me, man. And at the end of the day, don’t you think friendship is more important?”

“This is how you build friendship. Through healthy competition.”

“You really believe that?”

“You don’t?”

“Oh, I dunno, man. I always kinda thought that peace and love was the way to go, y’know? Whenever possible, I mean.”

Roman held back a laugh. “Peace and love? Isn’t that a little vague?”

“Vague? Nah, man. E’erybody knows what peace and love means. Having care and compassion for your fellow humans. Not getting all up in their business. Unless, y’know, you have to.”

“Sure, but in my experience, ‘love’ can be rather aggressive and even rude. Doesn’t necessarily jive with the notion of ‘peace,’ ya feel me?” Crap, he was starting to pick up some of this weirdo’s speaking habits. Roman had always had something of a natural gift for acquiring accents and the like. Usually, it was helpful, but he wasn’t appreciating it very much, at the moment.

“Hmm,” mused Leo. “Maybe you’re right. I’ve known a fair few folks who did some bonkers stuff ‘cuz of love. Or so they said. Hard to know these things for certain, right?”

Roman only returned a lame shrug and waited for Leo to guess a card.

Leo did not oblige, however. “You really think you can help me with Eri?” he asked.

“Dunno,” said Roman. “But I promise to try, at least.”

“Heh. Arighty, well... Ericoros is what you call... a drama king.”

Roman raised an eyebrow.

“He has a tendency to overreact to things. And sometimes he lets his emotions get the better of him. I mean, he makes an effort to be rational, but y’know...”

“I see. How old is he? Do you know?”

“He’s in his two thousands now.”

“Where is he from originally?”

“Luugh.”

“Where in Luugh? What country?”

“Doesn’t exist anymore.”

“Really? I thought all the countries there were pretty old.”

“They are. Not his, though. The Kingdom of Polura, was what it was called. These days, it’s known as the Republic of Grant. Named after that uppity Vanguardian, y’know.”

Roman did know. Field Marshal Grant. Celebrated hero across the continent of Luugh. Roman had been there a couple times. They had some real nice stuff there. Plenty worth stealing, certainly. And they were big fans of statues, those Luughans. And trees. And water. That was pretty much their entire culture condensed into three things, according to Roman’s admittedly meager experience.

It was too bad he hadn’t spent more time there. Might’ve been helpful, right about now. He considered asking Voreese, but she was probably still busy with the others. And she would probably just distract him, anyway. “Why do you think he’s so dutiful toward Sai-hee?”

“She saved his hometown four hundred years ago or so.”

“Mm, yeah, that’d do it.”

“Wasn’t actually her, though,” said Leo. “It was a group of her followers. Rescued the place from a small time warlord. Not even all that impressive from the sound of it, but to hear Eri talk about it, you’d think she descended from the heavens ‘r somethin’.”

“Is Ericoros religious at all?”

“Yeah, kinda. He’s a follower of Cocora.”

“Oh, hey, so he might like it in Atreya, then.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

“That’s a start, right?”

Leo made no response.

Not the kind of reaction Roman was looking for. Probably best to push quickly onward. “So Ericoros doesn’t share your reservations about Sai-hee? You mentioned that you thought she was worse than Dozer, even.”

“Oh yeah. Eri doesn’t see any of that. Thinks the ends justify the means ‘n all that.”

“Maybe the solution to your problem lies there, then. If we could convince him that Sai-hee isn’t as great as he thinks she is, then maybe he’ll agree to quit with you and go do something else.”

“You think I haven’t tried that already? He won’t listen, man.”

“Not even if we show him some real evidence?” said Roman.

“You got any real evidence?” said Leo.

“Well, no, but we could work on that.”

Leo looked doubtful. “Got any twos?”

“Go fish. You already asked for those earlier, by the way.”

“Did I? Guess I really want some twos, then.”

Roman was going to be extremely annoyed if he ended up losing to a guy who was barely even paying attention to the game. Unfortunately, getting a glimpse at the man’s cards hadn’t even helped much, since he hadn’t had any of the ones that Roman needed now. He could only hope that Leo had just drawn something that would be useful. “Also, ah--it would probably be helpful toward repairing your relationship if you told him about how you were brainwashed.”

“...Wasn’t really brainwashing, though, man.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was still myself, man. I still knew what I was doing. I was just... a slightly different version of myself, I guess. That’s the best I can put it, I think.”

Roman mulled that over for a bit. “You should probably just say you were brainwashed. It’s easier to conceptualize--and probably to forgive, which is what you want Ericoros to do, right?”

“Doesn’t really matter, because there’s no way he’ll believe me, man.”

“Sure he will! Especially if you’ve got someone to support your story, like me. In fact, we could just let all these Rainlords leave and then go find your reaper and have a nice, quality chat with him. Where is he, by the way?”

“...See, it’s questions like that that make me paranoid, brother.”

Roman tensed up as he felt the air in the room do the same. The expression on Leo’s face was familiar. Roman had seen it once before, back when they first met. It was an unneeded reminder that this was not someone he wanted to push too far. “Ah... you’re worried I’ll try to kill Ericoros?”

Leo just kept staring at him.

“Oh, uh, heh, sorry. That thought hadn’t even entered my mind. But yeah. Of course you’d be worried about that. We still barely know each other, after all.”

Leo seemed to relax a little, though only because his dark eyes went back to his cards.

Roman took a silent breath. He could feel himself sweating, despite his control over particle vibrations making him immune to the heat of the Undercrust.

Roman was a little surprised that Leo didn’t simply force the truth out of him again, though. He wouldn’t have minded, since he wasn’t lying. He certainly didn’t plan on trying to kill Ericoros.

He was beginning to run out of ideas. Perhaps he really would have to offer Leo that job after all. Before pulling that trigger, though, he decided to check in with Voreese.

‘Hey, you got a plan yet?’ he asked her.

‘No. And shut up. I’m having a very pleasant conversation with Garovel right now.’

‘I’m going to offer Leo a job.’

‘WHAT?! DON’T YOU FUCKING DARE!’

‘Then stop dicking around and come up with something!’

“It’s your turn,” said Leo.

“I know. I’m just... thinking.”

“It’s not that difficult of a game, chief.”

“Okay, how many different nicknames are you gonna come up with for me, exactly? Because it’s getting a little ridiculous.”

“Bad ridiculous or good ridiculous?”

“I... I don’t know. It’s just strange.”

“Maybe I like being strange.”

“Well, at least you don’t smell quite so strange, anymore.”

Leo just looked at him again.

And Roman was hesitant again, too, but he was also fairly certain that he hadn’t actually pissed Leo off just now. After all the time he’d spent in this man’s company over the last several days, he’d gotten a decent idea of the kinds of things that would and wouldn’t do it.

Mostly.

Indeed, after a moment, Leo put his nose over his shoulder and sniffed. “Never did much care for bathing, if I’m completely honest.”

Roman couldn’t say he was surprised. Nonetheless, it had certainly been a relief when Leo had started doing it again. Roman didn’t know if he would’ve been able to handle that level body odor throughout the entirety of their journey thus far.

“You got any aces?” said Roman.

“Go fish.”

He drew the nine of diamonds from the deck. ‘Voreese. Plan. Now.’

‘I’m working on it. You can’t rush greatness.’

‘Not a concern when you’re involved.’

‘Stop distracting me, you little prick.’

‘Do you need more information? Something I can help with, at least?’

‘Uh... one sec.’

He’d already told her everything that he’d been able to learn about Leo so far, but he wasn’t sure it would be enough.

“Got any clubs?” said Leo.

“Are you being serious, right now?”

“Sorry... I mean diamonds.”

“Leo...”

“This game’s kinda boring, dude. Maybe we should go do something else.”

That was not what Roman wanted to hear. “I want to finish our game. You have no idea how emotionally invested in it I am, right now.”

Leo scratched his cheek. “Eh... you sure? Think I saw a movie theater on the third level the other day. Maybe they’ve got something interesting on.”

Ugh. Movie theater or not, there was no telling what Leo would do if he left this room. The man was rather easily distracted, Roman had come to learn, so any number of things out there could catch his eye and make him wander off, which could throw a wrench into any plan the others came up with. “That’s--sure, fine. We’ll do that after our game, okay?”

“Myeah, alright...”

‘Leo’s getting antsy...’

‘Oh, ah--ask him why he likes Sai-hee so much.’

‘He DOESN’T like her! I told you that like six days ago!’

‘You did?’

‘Yes!’

‘I dunno. I’m pretty sure I’d remember if you had...’

Roman’s brow twitched. ‘Have you not been listening to everything I’ve been saying?’

‘Of course I have! I mean. Maybe not “everything,” but you know, most of it, for sure.’

‘Voreese!’

‘Relax, Roman, I got this.’

‘I feel like you don’t!’

“Got any queens?” said Leo.

Roman did and handed it over to him. He spent the next few minutes reiterating everything that he had thought Voreese already knew, just to make sure everyone was on the same page. Between that and paying close attention to Leo, Roman figured this had to be the most stressful game of Go Fish that he had ever played in his life.

At length, however, Leo set his cards down again, and that glazed look came over him one more time. “I’m just not feelin’ this right now, my man.”

“What? Why? What’s wrong?”

“This is just takin’ too long, dude.”

“But we’re almost done!” They weren’t, really, but that was beside the point. He needed to keep Leo here.

“Whatever. You win. I concede.” Leo stood up from the table and stretched his arms over his head. “Whew. How about that movie now, eh?”

That was pretty decisive. Not really any space for argument, Roman felt. If he tried to push the game on him any harder, then Leo would probably get suspicious. Which would certainly suck. “I--ah--hold on. Why don’t we stay and talk a while. I’m still curious to know more about Ericoros.”

“I can tell you about him on the way. Let’s go.” And he started for the door.

“Wait--uh, actually--” Running out of options, Roman just said the first thing that came to mind. “There’s something important that I’ve been meaning to tell you.”

That made Leo stop and turn.

Well, shit. There was only one thing he could think of that would justify saying something like that.

But then, maybe it was time. Maybe it wouldn’t be a disaster. Maybe it would even work out well in the end.

Maybe.

‘Voreese? Sorry. Gonna offer him a job.’

‘I TOLD YOU TO WAIT!’

‘Can’t. I’m doin’ it. Wish me luck.’

‘AGH! FUCK YOUR LUCK!’

Leo was waiting patiently and confusedly.

Roman was slow to pull out the necessary words. “...I think you should quit working for Sai-hee and come work for me, instead.”

Leo was silent a moment. “...‘Scuse me?”

“I know this was only supposed to be a temporary gig, you trying to repay me for helping you. Which, actually, I suppose you’d have to do TWICE over now, considering you’d be turning in my allies for your own gain--but that’s neither here nor there. What I’m saying is that I want to hire you full-time. To help me protect my homeland of Atreya, mainly, though I may come up with other jobs for you, too.”

Leo opened his mouth, then closed it again and puffed out his cheeks. “Hmm.”

“And look,” said Roman, “I understand that you’re having difficulties with your reaper, right now, but I think you’ll find that I’m a very good employer. I will pay you well for your services, and I’m sure I can bring Ericoros around. Even if he loves Sai-hee, I’ll make him love me more.”

Leo squinted and scratched the tip of his nose. “Uh, how, exactly?”

“What do you mean, how?”

“I mean, how do you plan to make Ericoros love you? He’s, uh... rather difficult to win over.”

“Just leave that to me. I can be very persuasive.”

“Nope. Don’t think so. Appreciate the offer, though, chief.” He turned to leave again.

“Wait! What?! Why not?! It’s a great offer! I’m not lying, you know! Go ahead and check! I’m filthy rich! I’m so rich that sometimes I feel kinda bad about it!”

“That’s good to know, but it ain’t about money, man. Money don’t bring you happiness.”

“Yeah, well, not having it certainly brought me sadness. I know what it’s like to be poorer than dirt, so don’t give me any of that crap about money not being important. It’s important as hell.”

Leo sighed. “Yo, man, I ain’t no sell out.”

Oh... fuck. Leo was one of those people. Roman supposed he should’ve seen that coming, considering everything else he knew about the man.

“I’m--argh, I’m not saying you are, Leo. I’m just saying, I’d be a very good boss to have. Trust me. You’d like working for me. Money is only one aspect of it, alright? I’m not just some money loving psycho. I’ve got big plans for the future, and I’d like you to be part of them. That’s how I plan on convincing Ericoros. By showing him that you and him will be a part of something much greater and more meaningful in the long-term.”

Leo’s eyes were already glazed over. “Spoken like a real youngin’. You know how many times I’ve heard people say stuff like that? Lemme guess, you wanna change the world? You upset the balance of power and save loads of people in the process?”

Roman couldn’t deny that he wanted those things, but he also didn’t want to come across as a starry-eyed child. “My reaper and I have a solid plan.”

“Lemme guess that, too. You’re gonna take it slow and steady until you can recruit more people like me to your side?”

“That’s... one aspect of it, yes, but there are others--”

“Save your breath, bro. Heard it all before. And nothin’ you say has any power behind it. Even if you make all the sense in the world, you gotta have that power to back it up. And what, you want ME to be that power for you? I’m not that strong, chief. Not against the likes of Iceheart and the Knife and whoever else might be out there now.”

“What are you talking about?” said Roman. “It doesn’t matter if you’re more powerful than them or not. You’re not the only person who would be working for me.”

“Oh yeah? Who else you got, then? Any names I’d recognize?”

“Well, it’s a work-in-progress.”

Leo snorted. “Course it is. No offense, but you obviously don’t understand a thing. And how can you expect me to work for someone like that, huh?”

Roman frowned, not sure how to argue with that. Maybe by bringing up Voreese and how old she was? Eh...

“Ya gotta understand. I’m old as heck. So I know myself pretty well by now. And I ain’t much of a leader, daddy-o. You know I ain’t ever achieved emergence before? Not even once? Just ain’t me. Don’t have the temperature for it.”

“I think you mean ‘temperament.’”

“Whatever. Not much of an orator, either, okay? Nobody’s perfect.”

“I don’t need you to be perfect. I just need you to do what I tell you.”

Leo rolled his eyes. “And what happens when the day eventually comes that I don’t want do what you tell me, huh?”

“You... exercise self-control and do it, anyway?”

Leo threw up his hands. “You ain’t hearin’ me, man! I’m sayin’ I ain’t got any self-control! I’m a mess! I gotta be kept in line! I don’t do well with rules, dude!”

“Well, we could keep things casual, if that’s what you’d prefer...”

“Oh, just forget it!” Leo spun around and made for the door again. “The answer’s no, man!”

Roman just watched him go.

He supposed the guy had a point, in his own weird way. Leo certainly seemed like a loose cannon if ever there was one. Roman didn’t know how he would keep a handle on someone like that, especially since money didn’t seem like it mattered very much to him.

Ugh.

He stood up from the table and started after Leo. Whatever the case, he probably wanted to keep an eye on him. As much as he might’ve liked to just book it out of here and go meet up with Hector, something told him that the kid wasn’t going to be down with leaving all these captured Rainlords behind.

‘...Didn’t go well,’ he told Voreese as he stepped out onto the stony veranda. The view from the bottom of Capaporo was a peculiar one. White and amber lights filled his view, save directly above his head, where the giant pit just kept going.

‘What does that mean?’ said Voreese.

‘He... he turned me down.’

She laughed like a jackass. ‘You fuckin’ loser!’

‘Hey. If I’m a loser, then that makes you one, too, you know.’

‘Yeah, whatever. So why’d he turn you down?’

‘I think because he doesn’t want to work for someone who’s weaker than him. It was a little unclear, though.’

‘Hmm.’

‘I’m following him now.’ Roman had already caught sight of him again. The guy wasn’t exactly speeding along, what with having the walking posture of a limp noodle.

‘Doesn’t wanna work for someone weaker than him, eh?’ said Voreese. ‘How old-fashioned.’

‘Well, he IS pretty old...’

‘Psh, that’s no excuse. Still a goddamn baby, as far as I’m concerned. But maybe we can take advantage of that.’

‘Oh, do you actually have a plan now?’

‘Garovel and I have been swapping intel, and apparently, he and Hector have been getting up to some pretty bonkers shit in our absence. And didn’t you say that Leo originally said he wanted to follow you to Capaporo as “protocol?”’

‘Uh, yeah? So?’

‘He said that whenever there was someone he didn’t recognize who had access to a Courier, he was obligated to identify that person, right?’

‘Yeah, but that was just bullshit so that he could capture the Rainlords and offer them up to Sai-hee as an apology.’

‘Maybe. I think that protocol might be real, though. I’ve heard of such things before.’

‘Okay? What’s your point?’ Roman observed Leo stopping in front of a Hun’Kui street performer and tossing a few coins at him.

‘We’re gonna trick him,’ said Voreese. ‘Our problem so far has been that we can’t free the Rainlords and escape, because you’re the only one who’d be able to pull it off, and Leo was constantly breathing down your neck. But now we’ve got a few other people who can do it while you keep him distracted.’

‘...He’s kinda stopped paying attention to me, actually. He’s going to the movies. Maybe I should just leave and go meet up with you.’

‘No, I want you stay on him. In fact, I want you to bring up Hector. Talk him up a bit. Tell Leo all about how powerful he is, and how he’s actually the one who YOU are working for.’

Roman’s expression spoiled. ‘...Why?’

‘Backup plan, just in case Leo shows up while we’re busy freeing everyone. I’m assuming it won’t be quick work. This way, you’ll also be able to warn us if he starts heading our way.’

‘...That doesn’t explain why I have to pretend to be working for Hector.’

‘Because that seed’s already been planted with the whole Courier situation. Leo already has an idea who Hector is, so if you nourish that seed a little, let it grow, then Leo might actually come to believe that Hector is powerful enough to leave Sai-hee for. Get it?’

‘...I don’t like this plan.’

‘Well, it’s the best we got. Now go be a good distraction for us. You can run away from him later.’

‘What if I can’t get away later?’

‘Then you can just destroy your brain and escape that way.’

Roman’s brow lowered. ‘Excuse me?’

‘Just use your power and blow your own brains out. I’ll recreate you from scratch at my location, and Leo will have no idea where you went. It’s the perfect escape plan. And a real classic, by the way. Widely used throughout history. Not that you would know, you ignorant piece of shit.’

‘Voreese. I don’t know if I can actually do that.’

‘What? Sure you can.’

‘No. I’ve never tried to destroy my own brain before.’

‘Well, why not? What’re you, some kinda pussy?’

‘Voreese.’

‘Look. Just. Figure it out. You’re strong. I’ve got faith in you, Roman.’

‘Liar.’ Leo was on the move again, down a street that curved toward the middle of the city where taller buildings awaited. ‘And my ability doesn’t lend itself well to that sort of thing. I’m sure I could tear my head off with a strong enough concussive blast, but actually destroying it in a single go? I really don’t think I can manage that, Voreese. Especially not without practice.’

‘Ugh. Fine. Well. We’ll cross that bridge if and when we come to it, alright? Hopefully, you’ll just be able to slip away normally, once the rest of us are clear.’

There was virtually no way that was going to happen, Roman felt. Even if Leo was being rather inattentive at the moment, the man had very much NOT been that way during the rest of their time together.

But even so, Roman didn’t see many other options. ‘Alright, fine... What kind of stuff should I tell him? Anything I can say that’s not just a straight up lie?’

‘Lemme ask for some specifics real quick.’ There was a pause. ‘Well, um, apparently, he brought down the Salesman of Death.’

‘That’s hilarious, but I’m being serious here, Voreese.’

‘...Hmm. So am I.’

Roman stopped walking to blink a couple times.

‘Oh, he HELPED bring down the Salesman of Death. Ah, and I guess Garovel would prefer you not mention that one, unless you absolutely have to. Shit, this Manuel guy sure likes to talk. What is he, president of the Hector fan club or something?’

Roman was beyond confused. ‘What the--? Who’s Manuel?’

‘Ah--whatever. Not important. Gimme a sec.’

And he wanted to protest with a variety of different questions, but he acquiesced. He started walking again, having nearly lost track of Leo.

‘Okay, so Hector killed a worm, I guess.’

‘So have I. I’m not sure that’ll impress--’

‘No, this one was the size of a house, apparently. And it shot lightning. Oh, no, it was bigger than just a normal house? More like an office building. Oh, and they met some gods, too.’

‘...Okay, what the fuck are you talking about?’

‘That’s a good question. I’m relaying it now.’