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Back at the grove…

Pokey had stopped at her apartment in BuzzHuzz before they left the Grove. Patty hugged them tight and told them to come back safe, have a good time, and, "Don't let Capochin boss you around! Not the big boss, either! You don't take orders from anyone!"

They gently bumped their forehead into hers. Patty giggled. "Can I have Megapon for a sec?" she said. "I want to leave you a message."

Once she had whispered into Megapon, she handed it back with a smile. "Don't listen to it yet," she said. "Save it for later. Come back soon, alright?"

Pokey waved and walked off. Patty kept waving until they had rounded a corner and were gone.

"So," Vib said, standing directly behind her.

Patty yelped and spun around. "Vibiano! Don't do that!"

They grinned. "Hey, hey, just checking in on my favorite girl. Did Pokey say where he was going? Cappy wouldn't tell me."

"They just said it was outside the Grove," Patty said. She frowned. "It wouldn't be that far, right?"

"Huh," Vib said. "I guess if it's not far enough to specify? I don't know why Cappy was so weird about it, then."

Patty didn't know, either. She stared at where Pokey had been and wondered if she should chase after them.

"It's fine," she said. "Pokey would've told me if it was important."

"You think they're serious about you, huh?" Vib said. "It's only been a few weeks since you got together…"

Patty splayed out her hand. "Five weeks! More than a month!" She paused. "I mean, it's not that long, I know…"

"But I can tell you're serious about them."

She looked away. "I guess so, yeah," she said. "I'm just… I like them a lot, Vibi. I'm scared I'm gonna screw everything up."

Vib patted her shoulder. "If something goes wrong, it'll be 'cause Pokey wasn't good enough for you."

"You keep saying that," said Patty, "but if the person who saved the world isn't good enough for me, who is?"

"Girl, you could pull anyone you wanted."

She nodded. "Yeah! And I want Pokey!"

"Alright, alright!" Vib held up their hands and laughed. "If they make you happy, that's all I want for you. Got it?"

"I know." Patty smiled at them. "Thanks, Vib. I think I'm gonna sleep in a little longer."

"Oh, sure." They moved out of the way to let her back inside. "Pokey sure got you up early, huh?"

"Hush. It's not their fault."

"I know, I know, I'm just teasing."

Patty rolled her eyes, still smiling, and went back to her room to curl up under the blankets. As she dozed through the morning, she kept thinking about Pokey–how it felt to hold their hand, how happy she was around them, how she felt when they first asked her out…

Where had they gone that they couldn't tell her?

She shoved down her doubts. Of course the Godpoke knew how important communication was. Of course they wouldn't keep secrets from her. There was no point in wondering anything else.

---

Later that morning, someone banged on the door, fully jolting Patty awake. The banging continued, while through it, she heard Vibiano yelling. "Give me a sec! Spek, these people…"

Patty got out of bed and peered out from her bedroom. "Oh!" she said when she saw Ban and Alexei at the door. "Hey! It's been a minute!"

"Any reason you're banging on our door like crazy people?" Vib said. "You know both the bosses are on a trip, right?"

"So is Godpoke," Ban said. "Which is why we're here."

Alexei nodded. "The gods need someone to fill in for Godpoke duties while their actual Godpoke's away," he said. "So we volunteered!" He struck a pose. "Bizzyboys, back in action!"

"Bizzyboys and me," Patty said, going up to stand next to Vib. "Remember?"

"Oh, yeah. Bizzyboys and Patty. Sorry."

"What if we flipped it around?" Ban said. "Patty and the Bizzyboys! Sounds like a band name or something."

"Oh!" Alexei said brightly. "Bananathaniel, I just got a great idea–"

"Hold it," Vib said sharply. "If you two volunteered, why are you coming to us? Shouldn't you be busy?"

Ban grinned. "We volunteered all of us!" he said. "Just like old times, right?"

"Oh, no," Vib said.

Patty tilted her head. "Old times?"

"Before the big boss ascended, right?" Alexei said. "Us Bizzyboys–there wasn't an 'and Patty' back then–did a bunch of Godpoke's work back then, but then we had to stop 'cause it was a conflict of interest or something."

"There wasn't an Alexei back then, either." Vib sighed. "I guess without Capo an' the big boss, no one's keeping you in line."

Patty smiled. "I'll do it!" she said. "If Pokey's gonna be gone, it might be nice to help out with their job."

"Yeah!" Ban struck the same pose as Alexei. "Patty and the Bizzyboys, appearing live on the Hobbyhoo stage! Reserve your tickets now!"

Vib glanced at her. "You sure about this, Patty? Godpoke duties aren't that easy, especially since Pokey took Megapon with them."

Alexei snorted. "It's just delivering mail, how hard could it be?"

---

Grujaja flipped through his envelopes in silence while Ban continued sorting the mail. "This one goes to Milldread, this one goes to… also Milldread, but I think it's the other side of the cornfields? This one's BuzzHuzz. Wait, this one's for me! Who's writing to me?" He paused to tear it open. "Oh. It's a bill."

He handed the torn envelope to Alexei, who opened his mouth, paused, and shoved it in his pocket, having successfully resisted the urge to eat paper.

Patty sighed and adjusted the strap across her shoulder. "I think I'll head to Hobbyhoo," she said. "My bag's just about full."

"Wait! I've got another bunch for Hobbyhoo!" Ban pointed to another pile of letters.

She grimaced. The bag was already really heavy. "I'll come back for it! Gotta run!"

Encumbered by the mailbag, she only just escaped having more mail thrust upon her, and was out of breath by the time she reached the edge of the cove. "Would be easier with the van," she muttered. Oh well. The Bizzyboys and her had to get used to walking now.

The first few letters were delivered without issue to various citizens. They were only barely sorted, so Patty ended up running back and forth throughout the downtown and tiring herself out further. There were a few letters to Thespius–possibly wishing him well for the journey?–but she wasn't sure how to deliver them, so she stuffed them back into the bag.

"Maybe Click Clack will take them," she said to herself. She didn't have any letters to him, but surely he would keep Thespius' letters until he got back, right?

The air conditioned building was a relief to walk into. Patty sighed and adjusted the mailbag again. At least it was smaller now. She waved at Jake'm and Poolgirl Georgia as she headed to the elevator, and took a deep breath as she crossed into the god's domain.

As the realm materialized around her, she heard a voice in her head. "Our reader finds a dark scene around her, the lights turned off for dramatic effect as the god of storytelling awaits their visitor's greeting."

"Hi," said Patty, and she took a step forward, tripped over a book she hadn't seen in the darkness, and fell on her face.

"Lights on, lights on!" Click Clack was illuminated, his mask carrying a flustered expression. "Sorry about that, the editor god said, swiftly cleaning up the mess of his domain."

Patty looked at Click Clack, then looked around. Despite what their narration said, Click Clack stayed seated, and the domain remained messy.

"Anyway–Click Clack masterfully changed the subject–what brings the Godpoke-on-duty to my domain?" He leaned back in his seat. "Is there mail for me?"

"Um…" Patty got to her feet. It was always a little strange to be in the presence of a god. Made her feel lightheaded. "No, but I have mail for Thespius, and since he's not here…"

"Oh, right." Click Clack frowned. "Well wishes from his followers that must've been a little late sending. No matter. I'll take them."

Patty took the letters out of her bag and placed them on the tallest stack of books she could reach. "I think that's it," she said. "Um, do you have any letters to give me?"

"Oh, no," said Click Clack. "I ought to, really–I've been slacking on my correspondences–but without my beloved Thespius, I'm a wreck!"

"It's only been, like, six hours."

Click Clack raised an eyebrow. "I don't usually get this kind of attitude from mortals! You sound like your leader."

Patty bristled. "The big boss ain't my leader no more! Not after what he did! And I'm just sayin'–"

"Oh, it doesn't have to be a bad thing." Click Clack shrugged. "I appreciated Inspekta's willingness to call the gods out when we were acting ridiculous."

"Huh." Patty forced herself to relax. "Really?"

"Well, sometimes it made me want to tie his noodly little body in knots, but I usually appreciated it. In hindsight."

She giggled.

"Of course, the god of storytelling added, I'm worried about him, too. We didn't intend to ask Hector to go on this journey, but, well, he volunteered, and we couldn't argue against the benefits of having someone familiar with the area."

Patty tilted her head. "Familiar with what area?"

Click Clack gave her an odd look. "The Drain, of course. Didn't Godpoke tell you?"

The lightheaded feeling grew worse. Her whole body felt like it was adrift at sea. Patty stared at Click Clack with her mouth hanging open.

The odd look became a shocked one. "…Click Clack realized that Godpoke must have not informed their girlfriend where they were going. Surely that was a major communication error that they will have to repair on their return!"

"They…" She blinked rapidly, trying to clear her eyes of tears. "They're going to the Drain? And they didn't… none of them, not Capochin or the big boss…"

"Are you alright?"

Patty threw her bag of mail on the ground and ran out of Click Clack's domain.

---

Chapter Two: Rotten Work

They were able to drive the van Thespius provided all the way to the cove and onto the ferry. Whether or not they could drive it all the way to the Drain, Capochin thought, was yet to be determined, but he had opened up the hood and done a quick once-over, confirming that it all visually looked functional.

"So," said Cap'n Hauzer. "What's bringing you folks all the way to the Drain?"

"Grove business," Capochin said flatly.

"Well, I figured that much, seeing as you're coming from there–"

"It's private," Hector said. "Gotta keep it under wraps, y'know?"

This satisfied the ferryman. "Oh, sure. Makes sense."

Hadn't he implied as much? Capochin grit his teeth and looked away, watching the waves outside.

"We're trying to help someone in need," Thespius said. "The rest of it's private, but we can at least share that much."

Hauzer nodded. "That's the kind of noble cause I expected."

Capochin huffed under his breath. Nothing noble about it; the gods only wanted to help one of their own. It wasn't a god who dragged him out of the Drain.

At least, he hadn't been a god yet.

Thespius continued making casual conversation with Hauzer. Hector stayed quiet. Capochin figured he was still giving him the silent treatment.

Godpoke tapped his shoulder. "What do you want?" Capochin snapped.

They pointed at Hector. "What," Capochin said, "him? I'm not speaking t' him until he gets over himself."

He didn't realize Godpoke had Megapon out and ready until he had spoken. They dutifully captured Capochin's words and walked over to Hector.

"Great," Capochin muttered. He stared at the wall and tuned out their conversation, pretending Hector wasn't talking about him.

He heard footsteps behind him. Hector's voice played out of Megapon. "I ain't speaking t' him until he apologizes."

Capochin bristled. "What do I gotta apologize to him for? Coming with him on this fun little field trip?"

Godpoke reported his words back to Hector and returned shortly with the response. "Yes, actually! That's eck-zacked-lee what I want t' hear!"

He raised his voice. "Tell him he knows exactly why I'm coming with."

Hector yelled back before Godpoke could get to him. "I promised him he'd never have to go back there!"

"Tell him his promises don't mean squat!"

"That's–" Hector looked away, clenching his fists. "That's not true!"

"Oh, it isn't, now?" Capochin lashed his tail. "That promise was for none of us to go back, after we finally reached the Grove. That includes you!"

"This was different! They needed me! They didn't need yew, too!"

"If I let you go alone you wouldn't ever–"

He stopped mid-shout. The whole boat was staring at him, Thespius and Hauzer having broken off their conversation. Capochin coughed, the sound almost unnaturally loud in the silence. "Never mind," he said.

Capochin marched out to the deck and was hit with the cold sea breeze. He rubbed his nose and went around the van to the rear of the boat, leaning on the railing and staring into the distance. He couldn't see the Grove anymore.

He didn't hear Thespius behind him until the god spoke. "You alright, Capo?"

"Great," Capochin said through gritted teeth. "I'm doing fantastic. How about you?"

He could feel Thespius' eyes on him. Capochin groaned. "No point in lying to you, huh," he said.

"I'm sorry," Thespius said. "I thought it would be a good idea for you to come, but–

"Don't apologize for that." Capochin tightened his grip on the railing. "He needs me."

"But it's hurting you to be here."

He shook his head. "That's not what's important right now."

Thespius said nothing. He went to Capochin's side and put his hands on the railing next to him–only to yank them away the moment his skin made contact. "Clack, that's cold."

Capochin raised an eyebrow. "Clack?"

"What," Thespius said, "am I supposed to use my own name?"

"Inspekta did." He looked out at the waves. "For a while, anyway."

"Clicky was the one who told him it made him look immature."

He snorted. "He didn't. Really?"

"He said it nicely, but yes." Thespius sighed. "They were always too alike to really get along."

"Huh," Capochin said.

The conversation petered out. Thespius leaned backwards against the rail, staring out to sea. It really was cold, Capochin thought. He rubbed his hands together.

"The captain said it wouldn't be a long ride," he said. "Right?"

"Less than an hour," Thespius said. "The drive will be a few hours, but it's not too far from the Grove, physically."

"Physically? What d'ya mean?"

Thespius shrugged. "Our realms aren't an exact match to physical space. Long story short, without being there before, trying to make it to the Drain through the god realms would be like walking across a continent."

"Weird," Capochin said. "Wonder why that is."

The captain's voice rang out. "Get everyone inside, would you? Rain's coming."

They turned around to see Godpoke pointing Megapon at them. Thespius nodded. "Give us a minute, would you?"

"Nah," Capochin said, "I'm good to go in."

"I just need a moment, Capo."

He frowned. "What is it?"

Thespius motioned to Godpoke. They nodded and went back inside. Capochin turned to him, but just as he opened his mouth, Thespius put a hand on his chest.

"Ah," Capochin said. "Any update?"

No response. Thespius' brow was furrowed in concentration. His hand was colder than it was as a god.

He took his hand away and sighed. "Still nothing," he said. "I'm worried about you, Capo."

Capochin looked away. "Like I said. That's not what's important right now."

He went back inside. After a moment, Thespius followed. The rain started shortly after.

---

He had another argument with Hector when it came time to drive the van.

"You've barely driven anything in thirty-three years!" Capochin snapped. "Do you even have a license anymore?"

"I drove my van just the other day!" Hector fired back. "When was the last time yew drove anything?"

"Can one of you please just get it off Mizz Hauzer?" the captain said.

Thespius had to step in. "Now that we're outside the Grove, we will need someone with a valid driver's license," he said. "I don't have one, either, so unless Godpoke has one…"

Godpoke shook their head. Hector took a deep breath and dragged a hand over his face. "Fine," he said.

It didn't feel good to win. Capochin grabbed the keys and got in the driver's seat. Once the captain had said his goodbyes and everyone had piled into the van, he turned the engine on.

"Do you know the way?" Thespius asked, sitting in the passenger's seat.

Capochin nodded. "From here, we get on the highway, and then it's southbound until the last exit. There'll be signs, too."

"You sure nothing's changed in forty years?" Hector commented.

"What, like the Drain's moved?" He snorted. "The highways ought to be the same."

Hector didn't respond. After a few long moments, Capochin decided he didn't feel like driving in silence and turned the radio on. It took a few minutes of flipping through the options, but he found a nice jazzy station, and as they drove down the highway, he tried to relax and not think about their destination.

---

Midway through, they stopped for food. They took an exit into a town that appeared to consist of a gas station, a diner, and nothing else. They went to the diner.

"Who's paying?" Capochin asked once they were shown a booth.

"I have money for this trip," Thespius said, sliding into the seat next to him. "Should be enough for gas when we need it, too."

Capochin shrugged. "Guess that works."

He picked up his menu. Thespius put his own menu aside without looking at it. "It helps that I don't need to eat much," he said. "This form is made of plants, so all I need is water and sunlight."

Hector sputtered while trying to drink water. "And yew're going to the Drain?" he hissed.

"Yeah? Is that a problem?"

"It's underground!"

Thespius opened his mouth, paused, and frowned, not saying anything. Capochin hid his face behind the menu and tried to pretend he wasn't there.

"Well," Thespius said while Hector stared at him, "there's, uh, got to be some plants down there, right?"

"Not many!" Hector said.

"…maybe I should eat something."

The waiter came and took their drink orders. Godpoke pulled out Megapon and had Thespius read the menu items for them to record. Capochin mindlessly read the same words over and over again, struggling to think of what he wanted.

"Nothing here looks appetizing," Hector muttered, turning the menu over.

"There's got to be something," Thespius said. "What about a burger? Didn't you like those?"

Capochin tightened his grip on the menu, his hands shaking.

"No thanks," Hector said. "I don't think I can eat one of those ever again."

It took Capochin a moment to register what he said.

He slammed the menu down, his eyes wide. Thespius caught his cup of water just before it tipped over. Before anyone could say anything, Capochin stood on the seat and pointed a trembling finger across the table at Hector.

"Do you know?" he snarled.

Hector met his gaze, his expression unreadable, then turned away and stood up. "I gotta use the bathroom."

"What a coincidence," Capochin said, "so do I!"

He scrambled over Thespius' lap to get out of the booth and chased after Hector, catching up right at the bathroom doors.

Hector stood at the sinks, gripping the edge of the counter. Capochin pulled the door shut behind him and took harsh breaths. "Well?" he said.

"Yew really want to hear this, Cappy?" Hector said.

His gut twisted. "You wouldn't be talking like this if you didn't–" Capochin raised his voice. "Did you know the whole time?!"

"No." Hector stared stone-faced into the mirror. "I found out after the Rift. I had all the video tapes in the van. One day I decided t' watch some." He exhaled slowly. "Saw yewr little cooking show."

Capochin felt lightheaded. No one was supposed to have seen that tape. "Did any of the boys–or Patty–"

"I don't think so. I got it from Vib, but they said they didn't know what was on it."

One small mercy. Capochin ran a hand over his forehead and realized he was sweating. His vision spun. He staggered and put one hand on the wall to steady himself.

"Cappy," Hector said, "I don't know what I did that made yew think yew needed to do that."

"You didn't–" Capochin shook his head. "You kept eating them, for one! You practically combed through each damn burger like you were picking out glass shards! How did you not notice?!"

"I don't know."

"You–" He hadn't eaten anything in several hours, but his stomach felt like it was trying to turn itself inside out. "You're lying. You had to know."

Hector slammed his fist next to the sink. "You want the truth?" he said, turning to face him. "I didn't know–but it doesn't matter, because I don't know if I woulda stopped eating them if I did! How am I–" His voice caught. "How am I supposed t' deal with that? How am I supposed t' even look at yew?"

Fully in a pit of despair, Capochin took a shovel and started digging. "What, you liked the taste that much?"

"Don't act like yew're the only victim here! It was a screwed up thing t' do to me, too!"

"Which is why you told me to stop, right? Oh, wait–"

"I'm sorry!" Hector yelled. "I shoulda noticed! I shoulda known I was being too hard on yew! I shoulda seen everything and stopped it! But–"

"No," Capochin said. "No buts! You should've, you didn't, and now you have to live with it!"

Hector's voice pitched higher. "Why should I?!"

"Because–" Capochin struggled to find words, breathing hard. "Because–"

He fell silent. With every breath, a small piece of the rage and hurt left him. Capochin straightened his back and looked away.

"Because," he said, his voice returning to a normal volume, "after all the screwed up things we did to each other, I still–I still care about you, Hector. I don't want to live with this alone."

Hector looked away, his fists clenched and his shoulders shaking.

"I'm sorry, Hector," Capochin said. "I shouldn't've done it, either."

Hector shook his head and went to the door. Capochin raised his voice. "Where are you going?"

"Back to the table," Hector said. "Find someone better to care about, Cappy."

The door swung shut. Capochin stood there, alone, until nausea overwhelmed him and he rushed to a stall.

---

As soon as he sat back down, the waiter returned for their lunch orders. Capochin didn't have an appetite anymore; he ended up getting fries and nothing else. Thespius tried a few times to make conversation, after they got their food, but when both Hector and Capochin stayed stubbornly silent, he gave up and ate quietly.

Partly through the meal, Godpoke slid a napkin over to him with a short message in neat handwriting. You good?

Capochin picked it up, looked at Godpoke, and sighed. He fumbled in his pockets for a pen. Godpoke helpfully rolled one over to him.

Could be better, he wrote. How are you holding up?

He passed the pen and napkin back over. Godpoke swiftly returned a response.

I haven't screamed at anyone in a diner bathroom recently.

"Don't tell me you heard all that," Capochin muttered. Hector glanced at him, then returned to picking at his food.

Godpoke pushed a second napkin over.

The whole diner heard it. Not the words, just the shouting.

Capochin swore under his breath and picked up the pen again.

Mind your own business, okay? It's personal.

They stared at the message for a few moments, then looked up at Capochin. He couldn't see their face under their bangs and mask.

Their next message read, I didn't become godpoke by minding my own business.

Capochin crumpled up the napkin and slumped back in his seat, his arms crossed.

Godpoke didn't write another message. They just stared at him. Capochin felt a twinge of guilt; it had been the first time Godpoke spoke to him using their own words, and not recorded messages from Megapon.

"…sorry," he mumbled. "Just… not now."

They shrugged and pulled their mask down to eat. Capochin focused on what he could stomach of his own food.

Thespius put cash on the table as soon as they got the check and they left in a hurry.

---

After the diner was another long stretch of highway. Thespius put his head on the window and fell asleep while Capochin listened to the radio. They were driving out of the station's range, with static and other interference cutting into the jazz. He switched stations.

Garbled noise played so loudly Capochin jerked the wheel and had to pull back into his lane. Someone honked at him. Thespius woke up with a yelp.

"Sorry!" Capochin hit the power button. The noise stopped. "Thought we'd have some stations left… everyone alright?"

"They're in a lot of pain," Thespius said quietly.

"What?"

Hector spoke up. "That was the signal from the god, right?" he said. "The one yew showed me at the Grove."

"It's…" Thespius ran a hand over his face. "…more intense now that we're closer. Sorry."

"No need t' apologize." Capochin took a deep breath and kept his eyes on the road. "That's who we're here to help, right?"

Thespius slowly nodded. "Right."

Capochin figured they were driving in silence until they got there. It wasn't that much farther, right? Just a few more minutes on this highway, and then they'd take the exit towards the border. Capochin guessed they'd be at the drain in about half an hour.

Ten minutes later, the van broke down.

Capochin felt the engine stop and swerved into the breakdown land while he still had momentum. "Oh, no," he said, watching the light on the dashboard flash. "All the luck–I thought this van got fixed!"

All four of them got out once they had stopped. "It did," Thespius said. "We even checked it before we left."

"I know, but…" Capochin opened the hood. Maybe it would be an easy fix.

The van, which he had previously confirmed to be in working order, was missing its alternator, several pieces of tubing, and about half the engine, leaving empty spaces where they had, apparently, vanished into thin air. Capochin stared in disbelief.

Thespius looked with him. "Oh, shoot," he said. "I hoped that wouldn't happen."

"Hoped what wouldn't happen?"

"Well…" Thespius sighed. "When the van was being repaired, they didn't have all the necessary parts, so I, uh, manifested some. Thought they'd last until we got there, but…"

"They didn't." Capochin slammed the hood back down, making everything inside rattle. "Anyone have any bright ideas?"

Godpoke and Hector looked at each other. Thespius hissed air through his teeth. "Maybe we can get a ride?" he suggested.

Capochin shook his head. "To the Drain? No one in their right mind would pick up hitchhikers going there." He grimaced. "Looks like we're walking."

There were no arguments. They fetched their luggage, pushed the van off the asphalt to roll onto the grass, and started walking.