“Pirine has stolen things before. He’s killed people before. He did that to bad people. Does that make it okay?” She stares straight forward as she speaks. “What about Hale? Do you think he did what he did for a righteous cause?” “But if neither of them had ever done anything, they wouldn’t be here.” “You know.” She speaks more softly this time. “Candra didn’t like Finley either. And I didn’t, and I wonder now if it’s because she didn’t.” “But when I saw what they grew up in.” She furrows her eyebrows. “When I went to that city I didn’t question it anymore.”

Rigel throws his arms into the air again with a frustrated groan. “Yes! Finley would be perfect! Finley would always be perfect, because it’s Finley! Finley this, Finley that, Finley can do this, Finley’s perfect for this, boy I wish Finley was here–” “You called?” Finley leans against the wall across from Etoile, smirking smugly. Rigel jumps five feet in the air with a short scream. Pythia laughs loudly, and even Etoile can’t help but chuckle. “I really appreciate all the compliments, Rigel. I didn’t know you missed me that much.” Finley continues, picking at their fingernails nonchalantly. “Aw, god, you’re still ALIVE?” Rigel groans and buries his face in his hands. “Why can’t you just pick a state of being for once?” “I’ll stay alive forever, if that’s what you really want!” They wink. “The other state of being.” Rigel deadpans. “Aw, you’re no fun.” They mock a pout, then turn their head to Navy. “Hello, bastard child.” Finley begins, propping their hands on their hips. “Hello, baztard parent.” Navy retorts, matching their pose. “Incredible” Etoile mutters. “Two Lygaris interacting without hissing and yelling and swinging at one another? Without anyone telling them not to do the aforementioned things?” (8:06 am)

Flo pulls out a long rod, sort of a staff-looking thing. Near one end it has the sort of metal ring that ski poles have for balance. Flo clicks a switch on the pole and a curved blade emerges from that same end, buzzing quietly. She swings it a few times experimentally, and Sam nods with a smile. “It’s perfect, Flo! I’m glad you found something to use besides just pummeling people with your bare fists.” (3:14)

“In my experience, pummeling people with your bare hands works quite well.” Finley interjects from their spot leaning up against the wall, arms crossed, smirking smugly (still)

Both she and Finley keep their postures relaxed, expressions even. Hard to tell what’s going on here, but so far, Sam is just walking towards an unmoving Finley. “I was wondering when you’d show up, Sam.” Finley comments nonchalantly. “Oh, I’ve been here.” She retorts with a quick smile, to mock theirs. She marches straight up to them, almost uncomfortably close, and stops. “I’ll have you know, if you’re planning on punching me, Quin already–” Sam leans forward and wraps her arms around Finley in a hug. Finley is understandably surprised. Rigel laughs loudly, pointing like a 2nd grader. “The one thing Finley can’t do, huh? Bitch?” They shoot him a glare and a raised middle finger before tentatively hugging Sam back. (6:08)

Finley’s hands unwillingly curl into fists and their eyebrows dart down, scowling, taking an aggressive step towards Svalin. “I am NOT going to give up on her like you gave up on me. I’m sick of these fucking ‘acceptable losses’ you throw around without even TRYING”.

“So what? This is MY FAULT.” They jab a pointed finger at Svalin. “MY FUCKING FAULT.” Why do you care about MY TIME that much? Am I that valuable to you? Huh? Am I that big of a pawn in your little game?” “Can’t I TRY, for ONCE, to make something BETTER instead of HORRIBLY WORSE?” “And sure!” They throw their hands up in the air. “It’s all of our faults, isn’t it? All of us are blaming ourselves except you, who somehow seems to think you’re ABOVE all of this.”

Finley laughs shortly, dry and maniacal. “I have to sit in a block of ice for eighteen years and watch my kids grow up alone, suffering, because you’re too cowardly to kill me, but now you want to let my best friend– YOUR BEST FRIEND–kill her own MOIRAIL because of something I DID?” “That’s fairly FUCKING HYPOCRITICAL OF YOU!!”

“SO I–” They point to themselves. “AM GOING–” They point up at the ship. “UP THERE.” They turn on their heel and walk away from Svalin and the rest of you, but pause only a few strides away. “If you get in my way.” Finley continues quietly, back still turned. “I will add your body to the good soldiers that DIED here because YOU–” They spin around, face twisted with rage. “DIDN’T HAVE THE GUTS TO PUT ME DOWN WHEN YOU HAD THE CHANCE–” They point at Svalin again. “BECAUSE OF THE TWISTED FUCKING EMOTION THAT YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY TO CALL LOVE!!!” Finley spins around and stalks away. The air crackles around them and their footprints leave burning holes in the grass. They launch off into the air not a second later. Parker is quick to follow. (9:39)