“Hello, Celesto.” TO said, their voice loud enough to alert Lendulin, “I didn’t know you were coming to the party.”

Lendulin froze, creating a long, ugly mark across the page she was working on. Her shoulders rose almost to her ears as she looked up, seeing Celesto for the first time.

“Ah. you.” She said, glancing away quickly, forcing her muscles to relax.

“Such a cold greeting should offend me.” He said as he gave a patronizing smile to Lendulin, “But knowing now that you do indeed know Venturi- not only that, but that you’re his assistant, well,” He chuckled, “I perhaps deserve it.” He glanced down at her book. “But I’ve not heard anything about you being an artist as well.”

The color drained from her face, and she closed the book quickly. “I’m not.” She said, “I just like to doodle a little.” 

 

“Well, I’m sure you’re inspired by working with someone such as Mr. Venturi. Though, I am surprised that he’s not mentioned you before now. I heard he brought you up at a museum in Okoia.” 

 

Lendulin shrugged and gripped her book to her chest. She clenched the pencil in her hand to slightly that it looked like it might snap in two. 

 

“Well, she told you she knew him.” TO said as they stood up, their wings puffing out, “You didn't believe her. In fact, you threatened to have the authorities called.” 

 

“Well.” He looked away, laughing nervously. “I already explained that to Venturi, of course. I mean-” He gestured to her. More specifically, he gestured to her tail, “How was I supposed to know that he’d have a legless for an assistant? Even Venturi agreed that I’d have no way to know!” He glanced behind TO, and suddenly raised a hand and waved, “Speaking of; Mr. Venturi! Over here for a moment.” 

 

“Oh, no.” Lendulin said, putting her book back in the pocket, “No no, I’m sure he’s busy-“ 

 

TO turned, and saw that Venturi had been speaking to a small collection of people clustered around a nearby table, but now he was looking at their small group, glaring at Lendulin. Of course, the moment he noticed TO was looking at him, he instantly. Smiled. He made some apologies to the people he was talking to - pointed to Lendulin and said something that TO couldn’t hear. The others laughed, nodded, and went off as Venturi made his way to them. 

 

“Mr. Venturi.” Celesto said once Venturi was in ear-shot, “I was just talking to your assistant, explaining that I of course had no way to know-“ 

 

“Of course, of course.” Venturi said, waving Celesto’s words away, “it’s not a problem. No hard feelings.” He looked down at Lendulin, a smile on his face that didn’t reach his eyes. “Isn’t that right, Lendulin?” 

 

 She nodded, refusing to look up from her lap. “That’s right.” She said. 

 

“… It’s not though.” DH said, “We were there. He threatened to call the authorities!”

 

“Well, you can hardly blame me!” He said with a huff, “I mean, most of them are trouble, I had to keep my business safe-“ 

 

“And he said that he couldn’t make a dress for her.” TO added. “ But her dress works just fine with her chair!” 

 

“Tio, DH, it’s fine.” She said, “Please stop.” She looked up, and though TO thought she might start crying, she smiled, “It’s really no problem. Just a misunderstanding.” 

 

Celesto seemed to relax. “I’m glad you’re so reasonable, girl.” He said, “you understand. But really, you and your friends should be with us. Everyone’s been talking about you.” 

 

Lendulin’s face burned with a vivid red flush. “They have?” 

 

“Well.” Venturi said, “I know how private you are, though your friends here did out you as my assistant. Or should I say-” He chuckled, “My little a-slith-tant.” 

 

TO felt their ears pin back, their lips curled up to reveal their teeth. Despite that, they kept their tone calm. “I didn’t think such awful language would be fitting for a party like this.” They said, “I might be new to the planet, but I thought that was a fairly nasty slur.” 

 

“Oh, she doesn’t mind.” Venturi said with a wave, “Right, Lendulin?” 

 

“… Right.” She whispered. “It’s fine, Tio.” 

 

“It’s not-“ 

 

“I said it’s fine!” For the first time, she sounded legitimately angry. Her tail thrashed against the grass, and her pupils narrowed to show the light blue color of her eyes, “It’s. Fine.” Then, still flushed, she looked up to Celesto, “And I’d rather just watch, please. I’m not very social.” 

 

“See, it’s as I told you.” Venturi said, “She’s antisocial and shy. Come on. Let’s leave her alone.” He chuckled as he came up to Celesto’s side and put an arm around his shoulder to lead him away. “Come no, I do want to show you this lovely piece-“ 

 

Lendulin was silent until they were gone. Then she looked up at TO, “You understand nothing.” She said, “I need him. I need him to want to work with me. I have the art, but he has the power.” She pulled herself to her chair, and hoisted herself up. “You heard what the critic said- he’s being carried by his reputation now. He could probably just drop me, find another artist, and say he’s working on a new style.” 

 

“But he shouldn’t be able to call you-“

 

“What does ‘shouldn’t’ have to do with anything!” She snapped as she settled herself in her chair. “Your family shouldn’t separate you two. I shouldn’t have to sell my work to Venturi just to survive while he brings in all kinds of money from the fame. Pearla shouldn’t have to run a shelter in the Outer Ring, and the government should have blacklisted Petra for protesting! But that’s just how it is!” She wheeled her chair off the grass. “That’s just how it is, and how it’s going to be, and I’m just trying to survive.” She glared back at him. “You get Venturi pissed, and what… you don't get invited to parties?” She scoffed, “if I get on his bad side, then I can’t work. I lose my place, my money, and I end up working in the water, harvesting shells and doing cleanup around the island for pennies. Either that, or end up indebted.” She pushed herself off, wheeling away.

 

“Lendulin, wait-” TO was about to chase after her, but DH stopped them, putting a hand to their chest. 

 

“Wait.” They whispered. “I’ll go after her.” 

 

“But-“

 

“She’s angry at you. I’ll go talk to her, and you can change, and deal with work as a synth. After you’ve done that, and once Lendulin is calm, I’ll send you a message, and ark-87 Can leave the party, you can come back, and we’ll meet you.” They smiled. “We were worried about leaving her on her own anyway when we had to be synths, right? This way, we don’t.”

 

“They’re expecting two-“

 

“You just say that I had pressing matters to deal with, highly confidential, and that you came to show King Decon’s support.” Their ears dipped back. “That should work, yes?” 

 

“… yes, I suppose-“ 

 

“Good.” DH said. They ran their hand down TO’s chest, their ears slightly flushed, “you know… I really want to kiss you now. But…” They glanced around, “Since we got caught-“ 

 

“I know.” TO said. They took DH’s hand in their own and squeezed their fingers. Then, after a moment of hesitation, they leaned in and gave them a quick kiss. “But we’re running out of moments to kiss in.” 

 

DH smiled, kissed TO back, then turned and took off after Lendulin.

 

 For several long moments, TO could only watch them as they headed off, the black fabric fluttering from their wings and catching the light overhead, the gems in the netted veil shifting and moving. In their gown, they moved like a dream and TO worked so hard to commit that to memory. They quickly took up their communicator and took a picture, but it wasn’t nearly as beautiful in the picture as it was in reality. 

 

They wished they could paint like Lendulin, so they could put their memory onto a canvas, and keep it forever. Well, keep it until they have to give it up upon reassignment. 

 

Once DH was gone, TO sighed and headed off. It was time to become a synth. 

 

======

 

DH was right; splitting up was the best idea. Sure, it meant that they would have to be separated for a little while, but they had already committed to making an appearance as synths, and they didn’t want to leave Lendulin alone. 

 

They still didn’t like leaving DH alone. Once more, being separated from their mate made their stomach churn and brought back that feeling that they’d never see them again. The fear that someone would just take DH away from them was so much stronger today, and they hated it. 

Maybe it was just because every second that passed stole from the time they had together. Maybe it was just because DH had just reminded them of that fact, and their imminent separation hung before them like looming, dark storm clouds. 

 

They’d have to get used to that. They’d have to survive without DH soon. Still, they hated being away from DH when every second they had left together counted so dearly. 

 

They left the party as though they were going back home, then went to the changing rooms to get their travel clothes. The changing rooms were, of course, all under surveillance, but DH had created a little program on TO’s communicator that could disable any recording devices. Once they had activated that, they changed into their armor. Their long coat was a little too long to fit in the armor comfortably, so they removed it and put it in the locker with the clothing they had arrived in, leaving their badge inside as well. Once they looked like a proper synth, they headed to the vents in the back which led to the other side of the changing room.From there, they merely walked back towards the security guard at the entrance, who saluted them immediately. 

 

“Apologies, I did not see you arrive-“ 

 

“Obviously, taking this tube would have caused panic and concern. I used screening technology to get in without causing issues.” It still made TO worry a little to lie like that, but lying to civilians wasn’t the same as lying to another synth. 

 

“Oh.” The guard seemed confused, but if he believed the story or not, he clearly wasn’t willing to question a synth. “Very well, honored synth. I will bring you to Minister Sally. I thought there would be two of you-“ 

 

“Ark-88 has urgent business to attend to, though I decided it would be best if at least one of us arrived.” 

 

“Yes, of course.” The guard nodded, stepped back, then headed off to lead TO back into the party. 

 

It was easy; far easier than they had imagined. TO wasn’t sure if turning into themself again would be as easy, but they’d deal with that when the time came.