Meanwhile, Looksee was putting a pair of pens, a few marble-sized metal spheres, and a glass case with what looked like three memory cards inside it down on the ground.

The man with the beard and parted hair walked behind Chris, the effect sweeping up and down Chris’s back. He searched Chris’s midsection.

“There we are. I see the shape of things, now,” the man with the parted hair murmured. His eyes were alive behind the hard ivory-white mask. “I can extend you a measure of trust, I think. Do us a favor and stay still. Give us no reason to be concerned.”

Chris was still for a moment, before nodding slowly.

The man moved from Chris to Looksee. The process was faster—a quick up and down.

From Looksee to me. I felt my costume rustle against my skin as it swept over me, my hood moved. The effect passed.

Then Sveta. He made no remark or comment before moving on to Capricorn.

Capricorn barely paid attention to the power that was sweeping over him. He was focused wholly on the three men that had been staring at him earlier. They’d moved from their position, approaching Lord of Loss, and were now leaning close, exchanging words at a low volume. Nursery had stepped away to give the three and Lord of Loss some measure of privacy.

“Good. Leave your things where they are and remain still,” the man said. “Do you have a name?”

“Beg pardon?” Capricorn asked. He tore his eyes away from the three men and Lord of Loss, all of whom were looking at us.

“A name. So I can announce you.”

The three men stepped back and walked away, in the direction of the side of the largest house.

“Oh, um, oh Jesus,” Capricorn said. “No. We’ve been putting it off for forever, it’d be easier if you asked us to go pick a fight with Goddess or something.”

“We’re not asking for that,” the man said.

“You want our cape names, or group, or—”

“All of the above,” the man with the parted hair said. “It matters. This is a place where formality, titles, and roles matter. The name you choose is important.”

“Can you give us a moment?” Capricorn asked.

“I can,” the man said. He glanced back at Lord of Loss, then over at the crowd. No statement to any grand effect, but the point was clear. This was a large crowd and it would be poor form to keep them waiting. “I’ll be waiting. Signal me when you’re ready, and then announce yourselves.”

“Talk to me,” Capricorn said, before the man was even gone. “Fast.”

“We have you and Looksee hammered out,” Sveta said.

“No,” Looksee said. “Um. I’ll be Lookout. Change me to Lookout, as an inside joke, because of what he said, after the Fallen thing.”

“Lookout?” Capricorn asked.