It was Sunday morning and I was adjusting the front of my Dragon Red coat. I didn't technically have to wear it until the meeting, but changing later would be a pain. I was going to have a busy day today. First I had to go to the meeting with the other council, then the others were doing something for Russel's birthday today.

For me, that mostly meant having to swing by the mail office to pick up stuff. I wasn't sure what kind of things Russel's parents would send him, but I was the one with the responsibilities.

It was a quiet morning walk through the school. Most students had the sense to still be asleep I supposed. My footsteps on the slate tiles were almost too loud. The only thing that would make it worse would be another set of steps following.

It was barely even open when I got there. It had early opening hours, but the council meetings were almost as early.

"Good morning," I greeted. I still had no idea who the students helping run the post were. But it was still good to be polite. They were older, but had yet to be anything but what I called, 'business polite'.

"Good morning, here for a pickup?"

I pulled out the slip with all the information. Name, number of packages, identification numbers for them. It was nonsense to me, but I liked efficiency and if the system worked I wasn't going to complain. I put the slip of paper on the counter between us and put my hands in my pockets.

Something in my right pocket felt warm.

It took me a moment to figure out what before I realized and pulled it out.

Shattering Sunrise.

The student was still fetching the packages. It felt a little rude to answer a call but maybe I could make this quick.

I held it gently in my hand, probably gentler than I needed to, as I spoke into the origami crystal. I was surprisingly nervous. The first use of this thing was a little bit terrifying. "Hey, what's up?"

"Are you heading for the council meeting yet?" Jarec's voice came in clear. Clearer than even a cellphone call. The crystals were all faintly glowing Jarec Blue. The base had an aura of Fethris Green.

"No, that's not for another hour. I'm picking up Russel's mail then heading back to the Tower."

"Okay cool. Talk to you then."

The warmth and glows faded from Shattering Sunrise. The call was over so I hurriedly tucked it back into my pocket.

When I looked back up to the counter there was three packages in a neat pile. Two were familiar white boxes, the third was a brown one. "That's everything, need anything else?" The student asked.

"No thank you, you have a nice day." I told them as I grabbed the packages. None of them were heavy and they were all on the smaller side.

Carrying them back wasn't a burden. Not by any stretch.

Russel wasn't anywhere to be seen when I got back. Probably wasn't even awake yet. Which was valid, truthfully.

I kind of wanted to go back to sleep. But I had a meeting to go to.

Jarec was leaning against the back of the couch facing the door.

"I'm going to leave these in the workroom. What did you want to talk about?" I said as the door closed behind me. Jarec calling meant he thought it couldn't wait, but he didn't seem in a rush.

"Do you know what your meeting today is about?"

"A few things, probably. They don't tell me ahead of time what we're going to talk about. Assuming they even know. My best guess, the Founder's Trials and the gala beforehand. And probably whatever else is going on around school."

There was a chance he knew more about what to expect from the meeting than I did. Which you'd think was a sign that maybe it shouldn't be me going to them.

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"Do you guys pick like themes and stuff?"

"We did for the last dance. I see no reason why we wouldn't."

"Do you have any thoughts about what you want to see?" He was following me in perfect lockstep.

"I don't know anything about how this works. What traditions should I know? Are there things I should avoid?" I spoke as I opened the door to the workroom.

"What kind of dance would make you want to attend?"

"You really think I should go?"

There was a moment of quiet as I set the boxes on the center of the table. I turned to look at him, he was leaning on the door frame.

"I see why you're asking me now. It's…basically required for competitors in the trials to attend the gala. It's a thing. You have a dress, right?"

"I do have a dress. But I haven't thought about going."

"You're going to have to."

Boo.

"If I must. What themes would you like to see?" I was already dreading it.

"Not my job to decide. But I know Celica has strong opinions."

"That's the best news you've given me. I can work with strong opinions."

"She gave me a list," he said as he pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket.

I liked lists. I could go over lists right before talking with the other Representatives. "Give me," I held out my hand.

"Do you think you can get everything on it?"

"Probably not, but I can do my best. Tell me she put this in order of importance."

"You're very particular."

"When I know what people want, it makes everyone's lives easier."

"We want you to make it out of this school alive."

"I'm doing my best, and I know you guys are too."

"Please. Just…remember that, okay?"

"I will. I promise."

He held out the page of Celica's demands. It was almost completely full.

I was going to have to go through this in detail later. "Is Celica the only one with demands?" Part of me felt a little bad talking about Celica like she was holding me ransom.

"Well, Fethris doesn't seem to care. Russel talked to Celica about some thoughts then she and I finalized that list of hers. So…everyone who has an opinion is on there."

"Awesome. So if there's a contradiction that's why?"

"I hope there isn't, but yeah."

"Thank you for doing this. Feel free to tell Celica that too."

"No problem. Seriously. No need to thank us for everything."

"How are you supposed to know I appreciate everything if I don't?"

"Is this a…" Jarec paused and frowned, deep in thought for a moment. Had he completely forgotten what he was saying or was someone using the group chat? "Neurodivergent thing?"

I blinked several times as my thoughts turned to static. "What?"

"That was the right word, right? Russel mentioned something about it."

I wanted to kill Russel and use his skull for decoration.

"What, exactly, did he say?" The walls were up now. Fully and sturdy as if he was a stranger. I hated this feeling, no matter how much I couldn't change it. I hadn't planned on ever telling any of them about it.

"It was a thing that might explain some of why your behavior can be the way it is."

What did that even mean? I wanted to throw up. The urge bubbled in my throat like molten metal.

I needed to find my voice and do some damage control. I held up a hand to tell him to stop and give me several moments. If he wanted a coherent answer, it was the minimum I was going to need.

"I'm getting the feeling I shouldn't have mentioned it. That's not secretly offensive is it?"

Come on voice, work!

I kept my hand up as I counted my breaths. I got to ten before I trusted myself enough to speak. "It's…not offensive. I just wish Russel hadn't mentioned it." He must have noticed at some point.

Damage control, Serafina. One thing at a time.

"Are you okay?"

"Not really. Trying to figure out how to explain it."

"Take your time."

I was going to need far more time than we had. "Think of it like…having an internal bug in your brain. Always buzzing and making noise and amplifying all of the things. My senses don't always…play nice."

"You get overwhelmed easily," He surmised. Had he observed it? Was that why Russel mentioned it?

"And brain and body don't always let me do the things I want to do. Like speak or articulate or express everything."

Jarec nodded, "Is that why you talk so bluntly? And the reason behind the…" He gestured at his face. Only a little better than pointing at mine.

"I wish it worked the same for me as everyone else. I've been told there's tricks to reading me, but the only person you could ask for them is Mom. And good luck with getting an answer out of her."

"I don't want someone to tell me, I've been enjoying figuring out how to tell on my own. Plus I've almost got it figured out. You've been desperately trying to not panic in front of us this entire week."

"Having someone to be strong for gives me extra strength. And I have been processing this past week. I promise."

"Okay. I mean… I haven't seen you look like you're about to have a complete breakdown since we first found out about Red."

"Exactly. Because I've been handling it. There's been a few rough moments but I've managed."

"Just remember you don't have to manage alone. Delegation is part of leadership too."

"There's four of you. I've got this."

"And if you need to make the lives of the other Representatives harder for a bit, all you need to do is ask."

"Please no. I just got to a point of almost peace with Horus. I'd like to keep it. Conflict makes the brain go into panic mode."

"Another time then."

"Maybe against Thoth to end the year off with a bang. A metaphorical bang." I did not need him blowing anything up. Because if anyone in this Tower would, it was Jarec.

"I'll shelve the fireworks for graduation then."

"Please do. Or until after there's no consequences for me. You can take care of your own karma."

Jarec chuckled, I could almost hear the plotting behind it.

I was feeling better about this whole thing already. I could almost forgive Russel for ratting me out. Almost.

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