“I don’t think that’s even possible,” Chastity sounded appropriately horrified.

“For contrast. I wear a monochrome costume, I need a colorful civilian identity, so nobody ever suspects who I am.”

“This was before your powers.”

“When the heck did we ever meet before powers?”

“No comment,” Tattletale said.

“You spied on me?”

“That’s rich coming from you, Imp.”

“I get no respect. I’m one of the most dangerous parahumans here. Right, Antares?”

I blinked.

“The almost-fire in your study? Remember that? No hard feelings, of course.”

“Some hard feelings,” I said, staring at her.

“Ugh. You people! No respect.”

“Weren’t you the one telling us to second-guess anyone demanding our respect and obedience?” Roman asked.

“If you’re going to remember every last thing I say…”

“You mean listen to you?” Chastity asked, leaning over, while Rain leaned back in surprise. “The thing you were complaining about seconds ago?”

“Do you see what I deal with?” Imp asked Damsel. “Give me a good word for it.”

“Impertinence,” Damsel said.

“Perfect word.”

“Please,” Tattletale said. “Don’t encourage each other.”

“I recommend corporal punishment,” Damsel told Imp.

“There’s an idea,” Imp said. “Next person to ignore me or sass me gets an Imp ambush. Snow down the back of your top.”

“I was thinking of something more impactful.”

Imp shook her head. “Can’t blow your wad that fast.”

“Blow—” Damsel cut herself off. She shook her head. “You were doing so well.”

“You’re criticizing me for word choice, and you’re sitting next to a girl who, fifteen minutes ago, was dangling her literal ovaries in front of her boyfriend’s face.”

“Don’t remind me,” Foil muttered. I saw Finale nod.

“She’s consistent.”

“I’m consistent in keeping people wondering what I’m going to do.”

Sidepiece had Disjoint and Damsel.

Rachel had Cassie and her dogs.

Cassie had Rachel and Chastity. Chastity had Rain and her family. Of that family, Roman was enjoying a quiet exchange of words with Rain, while Juliette paid more attention to the Imp–Damsel interaction.

I could have said that Tattletale was an odd one out, only chiming in periodically, part of her attention consumed by her phone. But she was between Imp’s group of older Heartbroken and the Tenders. The Malfunctions had each other, and were staying quiet, mostly watching and eating their soup.

“You three okay?” I asked.

“Been better,” Withdrawal said. “I had family in Scotland when Gold Morning happened, but that was so far away, and I only ever saw them once every five years. Didn’t really impact me. Today was the first time someone I know has died.”

“Maybe not dead. Do you think they could undo it?” Finale asked.

“I wouldn’t count on it,” I said, keeping my voice soft. “If you want or need to hold onto something you can imagine that anything might be possible when powers are involved, but… small chance of that.”