Finally the teams regrouped for the night and discussed what happened.
Pyrrha was noticeably quiet, and so was Oscar. The others wondered what was eating them.
"I...guess you guys weren't too happy with Shine and Wally getting put under house arrest," Jaune said.
"They didn't do anything wrong," Weiss surprisingly spoke up. "So what if they had an opinion?"
'The General is concerned because they refused to take orders," Ren defensed him. "He's taking precautions, what if they had warned Robyn? They would be abetting a wanted criminal then. They don't listen to any of us."
Qrow was there, though mostly quiet, and he sighed. "I knew they'd be trouble."
"Really? They are the trouble?" Pyrrha said oddly. "Are we so sure they are the ones we should be worried about warning anyone?"
Yang and Blake shot her glares.
"Who did you have in mind then?" Qrow asked.
"Nevermind," Pyrrha hugged her knees. "I'm getting a little tired of the secrets, as Nora said earlier."
"Yeah," Nora said.
"Look, it's just not a good time yet," Ruby said. "We'll only make it worse now."
"You sound just like him," Pyrrha said quietly. "I used to think General Ironwood was a good man. But this? This doesn't feel good to me."
"I'm worried Pyrrha may be right," Oscar said. "I want to trust the General, and I do believe in his intentions..but he was saying some weird stuff earlier too, like he wonders if not being human is Salem's greatest advantage...and I wondered if he's trying to put all emotion aside and just use pure logic...and can we afford to do that?"
"Well, acting on impulse wasn't getting us very far either," Qrow said. "This whole thing is a mess, but it's better to do something than nothing."
"Speaking of those two Fruit Loops, where are they?" Yang said, "They pick now to start respecting our privacy?"
Pyrrha and Oscar exchanged a look. "Well they were supposed to stay in their room," Pyrrha said.
They were all in team RWBY's room at the time.
"Leave 'em there," Qrow thankfully said. "Better that they don't spout off any more."
"Did you really think they were wrong earlier?" Pyrrha looked at him intently. "They're plan would have spared a lot of effort."
"Whether it would've worked or not, they're fighting with Ironwood was not what we needed," Qrow said. "They have a lousy method."
"I still thought locking them in was harsh, they didn't say they'd warn anyone," Weiss frowned. She had personal feelings about this, since she'd been given the same treatment by her father...and that reminded her. "And what about this party?"
"I doubt they'll be invited," Qrow said.
"I'm going to check on them," Pyrrha said.
She got up and went out into the hall, then into Oscar/ Wally's room and into the adjoining room.
No one was there...shouldn't they have been back by now?
* * *
In fact, the whole thing had taken Shine and Wally longer than they thought.
They'd started with Gira Belladonna, Blake's dad, because they thought that would be the easiest one, and so it was. While he found their sudden arrival odd, once they realized what was going on, he was quite willing to say he'd help out his daughter and her friends, and that the White Fang would be happy to help any fellow Faunus out also. He said, however, that they couldn't promise a huge array of fighters would be ready, protecting Haven and the surrounding area was taking a lot of effort.
But this was good enough. He also sent Blake his love, which Shine supposed they could pass on once they told the others what was going on.
Wally thought they'd hit Beacon next, but Shine said, no, because with Raven they would likely only have to talk, and that would take less energy, and she preferred not to do it after a fight with a Grimm, if it came to that.
Even if they did fight, they could just escape the Bandit camp, whereas that would not be a very responsible thing to do in Beacon.
Of course...when they just appeared in Raven Branwen's tent, she almost took their heads off.
Wally had his eyes shut anyway.
"You can look," Shine held up her sword in time to block Raven's first strike. "She's dressed."
"Who the h---are you?" Raven demanded.
"We're acquaintances of your daughter," Shine said. "And brother."
Raven stopped right before taking another strike.
"And you found me," she said. "How? Was that a portal...that's a rare semblence."
She clenched her sword. "What do you want? If this is about the Maiden again..."
"No one else is here right?" Shine asked.
Raven looked around.
No..." she said warily. "Why?"
"I don't want them to hear this," Shine lowered her voice. "We know you are the Maiden, Raven."
Raven's eyes widened, then she looked down. "So she told you."
"No, Yang has kept your secret," Shine said. "She lied...to cover you. I hope you appreciate that."
Raven turned and walked a few paces away. "But she sent you..."
"No, she didn't...Oscar Pine did," Shine said.
Raven looked back. "Ozpin?" She said.
"No," Wally said. "He's not Ozpin, geez lady, you don't know how this works?"
"I know more then you do," Raven said.
"You mean that Salem can't be killed," Shine said.
"And that she's immortal and part grimm," Wally said.
"And that she and Ozpin used to be lovers," Shine said.
The look on Raven's face at that last part was the one every student as if they pictured their teacher hooking up.
"Okay, you didn't know that part," Shine said.
"And I don't want to..." Raven said, in horror. "That is...wrong..."
"I know right?" Wally shuddered.
"But if you know....the lamp!" Raven hissed.
"You catch on fast," Shine approved. "Do you know why we're here, Raven?"
"I assume you're worrying about having a maiden on the loose who's away from Ozpin," Raven twitched her hand, and took her tone that Shine recognized as her bs-ing you diplomatic voice. "It takes some nerve to come here, and because of that twig?"
"He's a Pine," Wally said.
Raven ignored him. "But I'm not interested in helping you, or doing whatever it is you came here to get for me. Now leave, before I change my mind about not killing you."
"I find it funny that you think you could kill us," Shine said. "Take your best shot."
Raven took that as a threat--as well she might--and whirled around and struck at them at the speed of a trained huntsmen.
But it was still nothing to Wally and he easily moved out of the way, grabbing her wrist, and spun her into the post of her tent, almost making it fall on their heads.
Raven righted herself and turned to look at him in amazement.
Then she lit up her hand with magical fire and shot it at them.
Shine reached out her sword, and deflected the fire...it fizzled out like nothing.
"Do we have your attention?" she asked.
Raven stepped back. "Did you come here to get the powers?" she asked warily.
"No, magic is antithetical to us," Shine shrugged. "It would only hurt us to try to do that. And besides, we don't kill. I'm sure you have a hard time believing that, but Oscar is no murderer. We came her to ask you to reconsider your neutral position in all this."
"Then you're crazy," Raven said. "Because I'm done. Salem is undefeatable. End of story. You think I'm going to throw my life away for some meaningless battle? You're as stupid as Qrow is."
"It might surprise you to know, your brother is no longer as ignorant as he was the last time you met," Shine said. "I believe he may better understand your position now...just not the part where you stabbed him in the back."
"So he finally found out, huh," Raven said. "I take it the lamp really did do it. Let me guess, he's drinking himself into a stupor and wondering why he ever was blind enough to follow Ozpin at all."
"What a way to talk about your family," Wally shook his head.
"Qrow is no longer any family of mine," Raven said.
"Is Yang?" Shine asked.
Raven paused. "How did Yang take it?"
"She reacted exactly the way you did," Shine said. "Except for one thing: she didn't ditch everyone."
Raven bit her lip. "Then she's a fool. She still wants to obey Ozpin, even after knowing he's a liar?"
"She desires to protect her family," Shine said. "I've met few girls as headstrong and annoying as your daughter, and I have the feeling Ozpin would have said the same thing about you when you were his student...but I'll give her this much, she doesn't quit easy. She's also got quite the attitude, thanks for that by the way. Still, she protected you, as little as you know you deserve it." She folded her arms. "But I am not here to judge you. You did what you did because you thought it was the only thing to do."
Raven glanced at her warily. "But you still want me to help."
"Because there's something you didn't know," Shine said. "You didn't know, that there is a way to defeat Salem."
Pause.
"What is it?" Raven asked.
"It's complicated," Shine said.
"You mean the relics?" Raven said. "That won't work."
"I mean no such thing, though I think even that might work for all you people would care about," Shine shrugged. "But there is another way. There are things that can be done that even Salem cannot do. Now I want to be diplomatic about this Raven, because I know you're a clever person, and you would never take anything we say at face value."
Raven shrugged. "True enough. But don't expect me to listen to you just because you said that."
"I didn't think so," Shine said. "But let me put the question to you: Suppose we could prove that things that you would have sworn were impossible are possible? Without Salem, without the gods, and without the relics? That grimm can be defeated without the use of dust or weapons or even silver eyes, and that there are things you don't know about still, would you consider our proposal?"
"If all that was true, you'd hardly need my help, so why would you care?" Raven asked.
Wally had no clue how to answer that, but he was amazed that Shine never wavered, not even for a second.
"Simple," she walked a little around the tent. "I'm trying to offer you a chance to save yourself."
Raven raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"While Yang is a brat, she is still one of our people we're trying to protect," Shine said. "As such, we have to think of what she would want. She has seen fit to try to protect you, and you have a whole group of people out here who will be threatened by the grimm and Salem once it gets out that you are the Maiden...and it will, eventually, because Cinder's death will be proof enough that something was odd about that. And Watts is smart enough to figure out that Vernal was not it.
"How did you..." Raven looked at her strangely.
"The reality is your days are numbered and you're afraid of Salem," Shine said. "Now you can spend the rest of your life wondering when your number will be up, and waiting for the moment when she comes for you, just to spite Ozpin...or you can work with us, and if we're telling the truth, you could gain the upper hand, something even Salem would not be capable of doing. You know of curses and magic spells? But what do you know of breaking curses and things stronger than magic? We could tell you about that."
Raven tilted her head. "Is that so."
"But if you don't believe us, you can stay here," Shine said. "And, we will never come back and bother you again. Your fate is in your own hands. But if you would like to at least test if what we are saying is true, then, come to Atlas, to the school, and see for yourself. You can come in secret, and we will not let anyone else know you're there except the people who knew we were coming here...which were only two. If you see something that convinces you that we have to be onto something, then, show yourself. If not, leave without ever letting us know you came. We'll take your silence on it as disinterest."
"This sounds like a trap," Raven said.
"I won't give you a specific place to meet us," Shine said. "The only trap could be if I had eyes everywhere at Atlas, you can come and go as you please...let's say, sometime within the next week. Or next 3 days. It would be hard to trap you, considering you can turn into a bird, on so few specifics. You get in, you get out. I'd have to be pretty convinced that you'd see something you'd find astonishing in order to make such a bad deal with you."
Raven rubbed her chin. "And if I was to see it, how I would I know it wasn't a trick?"
"I guess you can't know," Shine said. "Other than by coming in and finding out more closely. I suppose if you think it's not worth is, there's nothing we can do. But if this was to work, you might never have to worry about Salem or the grimm again, at least not like you do now."
"But why do you think I'd be useful to you, if you're not on drugs about this?" Raven said.
"Because the others believe in the Maidens," Shine said. "And while it makes no difference to me whatever if we have your powers on our side, I know it will boost their morale to think that there are fewer enemies out there. And I believe in some way, the Maidens will still play a role in all this, it's just not the one that they think. You'd be wise to consider our offer, the next people who come looking for you will be trying to kill you."
Raven frowned at her.
"Let's say for a minute that I agree to this, you'd be sure that I'd come at the right time to see whatever it is you think I should see?"
"I thought you might say that," Shine said. "Suppose we do another test right now. Come with us to Beacon, it's not that far from here is it? You can fly back. If we do something that makes you wonder, then come to Atlas on your own, we'll try to be available with the next few days. But things change quickly over there, and our situation may charge, so I suggest sooner rather than later."
"And how do I know you won't take me right to Salem now?" Raven said.
Wally held up his hand. "What if we were tied up and blind folded?" he suggested.
"There's an idea," Shine said. "If the place we take you to is not Beacon, and not free of anything other than grimm and tired huntsmen, then you can kill us. If it is, however, you will give us a fair chance."
"That gives me way too much of an advantage not to be a trick," Raven said.
"Or we're just really confident," Shine said. "How much safer could we make it."
"You're willing to go this far just to get me to consider this," Raven said. "You could only have a use for the Maiden powers. You wouldn't trust me."
"Guess you would know best," Shine said. "Well, in that case, I suppose we could just go without you."
She opened the portal. "Sorry to bother you, Raven."
She nodded at Wally.
"I kind of feel like this is giving up a little easy, but if you say so honey," Wally decided to just go with it, since he had no clue how to handle Raven.
He went through the door--the person who opened it had to be last.
Raven's eyes widened, and then as Shine walked to the door, she tackled her from behind, using her sword and they both tumbled into the doorway.
* * *
Shine felt the impact more than she anticipated and thought it must have been Raven's magic powers causing interference in her portal, but they weren't active enough at the moment to really mess it up.
Raven herself felt dizzy and dazed from it and almost threw up.
So Shine had plenty of time to kill her had she chosen to do so, but instead she started brushing herself off.
"Whoa!" Wally was standing by them. Then "Hey ladies...look at this mess..."
Raven, putting a hand to her head, looked up, and the world stopped spinning a little.
To her horror, she saw what she expected was Beacon...though it was a shadow of its former self, in disarray, and still with Grimm all over the place.
They ignored them, however. Grimm tended to ignore Raven since she got the magic powers...something that made her feel a little uneasy at times.
Shine suddenly kicked the sword away from her.
"Don't do anything stupid," she said. "You see, it's Beacon. What were you going to do? Kill me? What if I'd portalled us right into a ravine first?"
"I can fly." Raven stood up shakily. "This is Beacon, all right...and I don't see any of Salem's goons. I'm surprised--you were stupid enough to take me right here even after I said no? Why would you risk it?"
"Because it makes no difference whatsoever," Shine said. "But shut up. We have to find Glynda. We have a message for her. Either turn into a bird or keep quiet. Those Grimm are already riled up enough without us fighting a dozen of them at the same time."
"They won't fight me," Raven said. "Unless I attack first, probably."
"You ever find that a little disconcerting?" Shine asked.
"They still attack Oscar," Wally said. "Is it the magic?"
"Oscar is not as unified with it as Ozpin," Shine said. "I've never seen Grimm attack Ozpin when he was in control. I think they can sniff out the difference. As for us, I doubt they'll pick a fight unless they are seriously cocky. Glynda can't be far, so let's go."
Raven was incredulous, but she wasn't about to leave now, so she followed them.
This place was in shambles... She'd seen it before when doing her scouting, but in the daylight? It was even worse.
They saw a few huntsmen trying to keep some Grimm back from what were probably shelters, but the restoration was just...not making progress. And the Grimm only got thicker the closer they went to Beacon Academy's tower.
"There it is." Shine pointed to the Wyvern on the top, still asleep. "That's how Salem is keeping her hold on this city.... We break it, and Vale will have a chance to recover. It'll take months to even get close, but, it's a chance. The team can't possibly do this themselves--they don't have the method or the numbers to clear this place out."
"So what do you plan to do? Even I couldn't kill that thing," Raven said.
"First Glynda," Shine said.
"You want Glynda?" Raven turned into a bird and flew upward, then she came down. "She's over there, to the west, trying to put some more crap back together and kill Grimm at the same time. I don't know why she bothers--she hasn't made that much progress in half a year."
"Just come on," Shine said. "And again, shut up."
"If I wasn't curious to see what you're planning to do, I'd cut out your tongue," Raven said.
"You'd have to catch us first." Wally buzzed around her and snatched her sword, which she'd picked up earlier.
"Give that back, you pinball!" Raven said.
"Say please first," Wally said.
She swung at him, and he dodged. "Geez, you really are just like your daughter."
"Don't mention my daughter!" Raven said.
"Give it back, Wally. She might need it," Shine said.
Wally tossed it back to her.
While the Grimm had ignored them till now, they must have seen them coming this close as a threat, because suddenly a bunch of Beowolves, Ursas, and a Deathstalker got in their path.
Raven had her sword ready.
"Raven, you might want to step back," Shine said. "Wally, you want to take the little ones?"
"Why can't I take the big one?" Wally said.
"Because you don't like bugs," Shine said. "And I have the sword. Just use rocks or something with the others or electrocute them. I don't care."
"Right, right. Well, I guess I'm kinda a melee kind of guy," Wally said. "I'll go left, you go right."
He dashed into action, racing a circle around all the smaller Grimm (small being a relative term).
The Grimm all appeared to be confused by this and ran into each other.
Wally picked up a rock and nailed one of them right in the eyes, and lightning from the friction sizzled up and fried some of them also, or the lack of air suffocated them.
Then he punched one and vibrated it so that its molecules came undone.
This was easily one of the most frightening things Raven had ever seen outside of Salem's forces themselves.
[And a move he never uses on real humans, but I guess a monster is another story.]
He did actually break up some of the ground doing that also, which wouldn't make Glynda happy.
Raven turned her attention to Shine.
She had her sword out and ran up to the Deathstalker, which twitched its tail at her.
Shine dodged it (it really wasn't that fast) and swung her sword, cutting the edge of its tail clean off with an ease few huntsmen her age would have.
The Deathstalker growled with a kind of hissing and swung at her with its claws, but it was already dissolving.
Then it was gone.
Wally stopped and found he'd missed one Ursa.
It swung at Shine again, and she stumbled--her Aura suddenly flashed up and deflected the Ursa like a shield.
It stumbled back, and Wally threw the rock and tripped it. Then Shine brought her sword down into its back. It turned into dust.
The whole whole thing took them about 3 minutes tops, maybe less.
Raven gaped.
She wasn't the only one surprised. Glydna had heard the commotion from the Grimm and come running, assuming some stupid huntsmen had gotten in trouble...and instead she found this.
"What in heaven's name is going on here?!" she cried.
"Oh, hello, Glynda." Shine turned, putting her sword away.
A small, winged Grimm flew up behind Glynda, and she smacked it away with her semblance.
"Who are you?" she demanded of them. Then she blinked. "Raven Branwen?!"
"I'm not with them." Raven held up her hands and looked testy. "I was just watching."
"Then get out of here," Glynda said. "You are not welcome here, you deserter! Unless you finally came to your senses."
"Probably not the smartest thing to tell her to leave before being sure of that," Wally said.
"Glynda, we were sent by Ozpin's new host," Shine spoke up. "You don't know him yet, but Qrow found him."
"How do I know this is true?" Glynda asked.
"How's that Relic doing?" Shine folded her arms. "Oh wait, I have a better way to prove it. When you and Ozpin were arguing with General Ironwood, you said the General treated every problem as if it was a contest of measuring--"
"Shine!" Wally cried. "You don't even cuss."
"Well, I was going to say that's when Ozpin cut her off," Shine said.
Glynda blinked at her.
"Now what would an enemy know or care about that?" Shine shrugged.
"Oh my goodness..." Glynda said. "He already did... I need to have a word with him about what he shares with people."
"He didn't exactly," Shine muttered, but aloud she said, "We're here to help you. You still have a little problem with that big thing up there, right?" She pointed to the tower.
"It hasn't gotten up, but it's drawing other Grimm like crazy." Glynda pushed her glasses up. "We never get a break. Every day there's more. All rebuilding has been almost non-existent, and now Atlas isn't even sending us support anymore. I don't know what James is thinking."
"I'd love to let you visit him and give him a piece of your mind," Shine said. "But first we should take care of this monster."
"You can do that?" Glynda said. "There's not a huntsmen alive I know of who could touch it."
"I'm not sure it'll be a one-shot," Shine said, "but it's certainly not going to be possible to rebuild this city till it's gone. Do we have your permission to at least try?"
"If you want to throw yourselves at it, I suppose I can't stop you." Glynda gestured. "But why now?"
"We're recruiting additions to the team," Shine smiled.
"And why is Raven here?" Glydna said.
"To do what she always does, collect intel," Shine said.
Raven couldn't disagree, so she shrugged.
"Well...go ahead," Glynda said.
"Can we fuel up first?" Wally said. "It's been a while since I've eaten, and I feel a little dizzy."
"You two are going to die," Raven said.
* * *
A short snack break later--and the food wasn't that good, but Wally couldn't be picky--they seemed more ready.
Shine wondered if Vale was on a different time from Beacon, because it seemed darker here than she'd have expected...or was it the smog?
Now that it came to it, even Wally was a bit nervous about facing a Grimm the size of his apartment building just about.
"Are we...sure we can do this?" he said.
"The Leviathan obeyed us," Shine mused. "This thing shouldn't be that different. We have authority over all the spirits...to pull down principals and powers... It can't be as strong as those--it's got the body of an animal... I believe Grimm are weaker than the monsters at home, actually. At least, in this form... What happens to them after they are killed, I don't know--probably their spirits cannot actually die, they just get new forms from those disgusting ponds. Whatever the case, we can break its hold on Beacon, I'm sure of it...or the idea would not have come to us...I think."
"I feel way better now," Wally said.
"Don't be afraid." Shine took his hand. "Never afraid, not of these things. Just keep saying to yourself, 'They are nowhere as scary as we are to them. And they can hardly be worse than Darkseid.'"
"Right... They are pretty gross up close..." Wally screwed up his courage. "Well...I guess I can run us up there."
He picked Shine up, and they raced away.
"You want to bet money on if they die or not?" Raven asked Glynda.
"Where have you been?" Glynda waved her riding crop a bit angrily.
Raven backed up. Old habits die hard; she still had a healthy respect for that thing.
Wally and Shine arrived at the top of the tower... The height made Shine giddy to think about--she almost preferred the monster to that.
She stepped closer to it.
The evil radiating off this thing was unreal, almost... Even asleep, it was menacing...and other Grimm were skulking around it like it was a giant mama cat...gross.
"Beat it." Wally shooed them, and they hissed and ran off.
"Ruby knocked this thing out," Shine said. "But she couldn't kill it. Not with one blast anyway... Actually it should be easy for us."
"We don't have to fight it?" Wally said.
"I don't know. I guess we'll find out."
Shine held her sworn out. The blade seemed like it was longer.
"Could you always do that?" Wally said.
"This sword is just a manifestation, Wally. It can be whatever size I want," Shine said. "I mean, technically it's not really material, but it's easier to focus this way."
She pursed her lips and then sliced into the Wyvern.
But instead of disintegrating, the creature stirred and then it opened its eyes.
With a howl of anger, it rose up, causing the Grimm around it to scatter even more.
Glynda and Raven stared at it in horror.
"What have they done?!" Glynda said.
The Wyvern looked down at Shine with hatred and screeched at her.
Shine covered her ears.
"Stop it!" Wally yelled, covering his also. He started to turn to try to get behind it.
The Wyvern swung its tail and caught him off his feet, sending him sprawling.
"Wally!" Shine yelled.
Luckily Wally hit the part of the wall that was still standing from Pyrrha and Cinder's fight and managed not to fall off the edge, but it hurt. Not as much as usual though... He opened his eyes, and his Aura was glowing.
Shine saw it, and then she remembered. Hers ignited also.
The Wyvern raised its claw at her and slashed...and nothing happened.
It stared at her.
"That's right," Shine said, regaining her confidence. "You recognize this, don't you? Though it's been eons since it happened, I'm sure."
The Monster just stared at her, warily.
"You are subject to us," Shine said firmly, "by the authority given to us. Your hold on this kingdom is now over. I'm almost glad you woke up, actually. It would have been so boring to do this to a sleeping monster."
If that insulted the beast, it didn't show it. It just bared its teeth.
Wally, recovering, grabbed its tail and electric shocked it.
It jerked its head up and screeched.
Shine ducked under its legs and quickly ran her sword up into the area its heart would have been. The sword pierced its scales with an ease that most weapons would not have.
The Wyvern howled an unearthly howl that made every Grimm in the area look up at it and quiver.
Shine's sword then flashed gold light so brilliant it blinded even Glynda and Raven, who were watching this in amazement.
The Wyvern burst into millions of dust particles, and the wind swept them away. It was a cold wind, even in summer.
Shine and Wally glanced at each other, and they started laughing, perhaps out of nerves.
"That was something else," Wally said.
"Not quite as simple as I thought, but it wasn't too bad," Shine said. "It almost had us for a second there, though... If it hadn't been asleep I think we'd have had a hard time getting so close as to do that."
"Yeah, can we not fight one this big again?" Wally rubbed his arm. "That hurt."
The other Grimm in the air, a few Nevermores and some smaller ones who'd been around the Wyvern, looked at them.
Shine stuck her sword point into the top of the tower, and golden light blazed over it like Aura, spreading out.
"Get out of here," she said. "This is not your home anymore."
[Basically Shine any time they deal with monsters.]
With hisses and caws of anger, the Grimm turned and fled.
Not every Grimm in the area did, just the ones close to the tower, but there was almost a tangible feeling that the others were a little less bold. The huntsmen who were outside found them a bit easier to finish off.
Some of the clouds overhead began to thin a little also, as if even that had been a part of the evil magic surrounding the Grimm.
Shine and Wally glanced down from atop the tower. The wind whipped around them, finally a little warmer.
"Well, that was fun," Shine said. "You think Raven believes us now?"
Wally looked down at Raven, who was gaping at them so much she'd dropped her sword.
"Hard to say," he said.
[Hmm...
Look, the show was never going to remember to kill this thing, in my estimation, so someone had to get rid of it. Better now than later when it would have seemed contrived.]