Thisbe fumed. “You just feel like it’s no big deal because you see yourself in the clear, based on the assumption that having more good inside you is better. You’re someone who’s been told they’re more good than evil. So you don’t see the impact this has on people like me, who have a bias automatically applied to them. I’m more evil than good, so therefore you expect me to do bad things. You probably even pity me, you annoyingly righteous do-gooder. That’s not fair. What if you ignored your inner goodness and only focused on the sliver of evil inside you? I firmly believe people do this all the time.”

“I would never do that,” said Fifer primly.

“You totally used your evil side on me when we arrived here, you big liar.”

“That was to protect you, so I see that as using my good side, actually,” Fifer retorted.

“This whole plan of yours is pure evil!” Thisbe said.

Fifer gasped. “It is not. It’s—”

Thisbe turned away in disgust. “Can we not talk about this?”

Dev’s head ping-ponged between the twins. “Um, okay, so if anyone cares, we have some work to do.” He tapped the plans. “I want to get through this. I’ve got to work on my weapons.”

“Right,” said Fifer, settling down.

Thisbe wrinkled her nose at Fifer, and Fifer sneered back. Then they both chuckled softly.

Dev did a double take. “Okay, laughing now. Is that… good? Or is that the sound you make before you rip each other’s heads off?”

Thisbe growled, and both girls pounced on Dev. The three wrestled on the floor playfully for a moment before straightening up again. Fifer held her sore wrist but didn’t seem to regret how she’d reinjured it.

Dev scooted back and blew out a breath. “Whew. I’m not sure I have it in me to handle both of you together. Sparring one at a time was a little more manageable.”

“You’ll have your wish soon,” Thisbe said. The words dropped with a thud.

“On that note,” said Fifer, fixing her hair, “let’s get serious about this. Where were we?”

“I was asking how this plan begins,” said Thisbe. “More specifically, what is my motivation? And why do I go alone? I need to build my character.”

“I’ll say,” Fifer said snidely.

Dev snorted.