Madame Administrator considered the file of Mr. Alan Humphries.

Mr. Alan Humphries was a Senior Collections Agent of the London Dispatch. Fifteen years before, he had broken the Rules and suffered mightily for it. He was the Avowed Partner of Senior Collections Agent Eric Slingby, who was also a Senior Mentor. Slingby had broken the Rules many times over and had gotten off very lightly. Both their dossiers showed that careful wording which was characteristic of Director William T. Spears presenting a situation in the best possible light. Madame, as a forensic auditor, was expert at decoding such glosses.

Indeed, Madame Administrator, who had backed Spears' request to resurrect them both after their dramatic demise, knew rather more about them than Spears did. Director Spears' talent was planning, not people. When he met behavior he could not understand he took refuge in the rule book.

Both Humphries and Slingby were also part-time instructors at the Academy. They were very well-liked by their students, who prospered under their instruction. The Academy's Administrator recommended them highly. Their fellow teachers' opinions were mixed, which was acceptable. Humphries had made some changes to the Ethics lectures, which some older teachers found 'uppity' and others classified as 'about damn time'. Slingby was considered a brilliant combat instructor with an unfortunately unconcealed disrespect for those lazy or conservative colleagues who taught formal duelling and repetitive drill rather than streetfighting survival techniques.

The City and Branch of London had grown larger. Spears' responsibilities had increased. Drowning in paperwork and business planning, he now proposed Humphries to be promoted to administrative assistant. Here was another classic example of a Spears gloss. Humphries needed another three years of service at the Academy to fulfill the requirements of promotion to Assistant Director. Spears needed the help now. By changing the title he was hoping to imply the post was secretarial, since Humphries was too senior to be classed as an aide. Possibly he was also hoping to avoid paying the salary increase.

Mr. Humphries, according to Spears' proposal, excelled in those virtues that Spears valued most—diligence, obedience and loyalty.

Madame Administrator agreed on the diligence. However, she perceived that Humphries and the Director defined loyalty in slightly different ways. Spears was loyal to his Division and the Higher Ups; Humphries was loyal to his people. This would affect obedience. While Mr. Spears was an excellent planner and disciplinarian, he lacked the ability to relate to his Reapers. Madame believed that Humphries, when he believed a legally acceptable action was also morally indefensible, might provide a valuable check and balance upon Spears.

Mr. Humphries still believed himself responsible for the whole Thorns debacle. It was time he got over it. How better than to be able to defend his coworkers and friends?

Yes, this would be an excellent choice, for more reasons that Mr. Spears knew. This would be a learning experience for him as well. It might provide her with some innocent amusement from time to time. She signed the proposal with a smile which might have had the slightest touch of schadenfreude.

As a test of his patience and dedication, Spears' first act was to stick Alan with planning the annual budget. Humphries requested copies of the budgets and ledgers for the last ten years, asked some penetrating questions, and retreated into his office for a month. During that month his partner, students and co-workers walked very carefully around him, but at the end Humphries produced a proposal which asked for several upgrades, reassigned the funds from several outdated expenses, and was approved without argument by Madame Administrator. Spears, who had used that month to clear his desk for the first time in history, mentally reclassified Humphries from "useful subordinate" to "national treasure".

This lasted perhaps two weeks.

The team of Anders and Brandon, transfers from Liverpool, stumbled into a ravening of demons. Their trainee escaped and raised the alarm, but both Seniors were severely injured before help arrived. One of the demons had seized the trainee's scythe and inflicted lacerations that would have to heal at a near-human rate. Anders sustained a spine injury and lost an arm. Brandon was clawed, scythed and poisoned. Both had broken bones. Other Reapers had responded to the trainee's call; the scythe was reclaimed, three demons slain and three others chased through a demonic portal.

Will dealt with Anders and Brandon as the Rules required. The trainee was shaky but capable of work. Will reassigned him to a different team. He thought no more about it until Alan brought it up two days later.

Alan's tone was reasonable but the look in his eye would have sent Slingby in search of high ground. Grell and Ronald also knew that look and feared it. It meant that Alan was ready to chase them up a tree and then set it afire.

"Will, you've put our Scousers on half-pay during their recovery. I'm sure that's an honest mistake."

"The Rules are very clear," said Spears, somewhat startled. "Reapers unable to stand a full shift go to half-pay while recovering. It discourages malingering."

"Being unable to walk is not malingering. Having broken bones and limbs which must be regrown is not malingering. Having to choose between food and housing is not acceptable. Making them give up their home and move into a dorm is not acceptable. Their wounds are honorable. They shouldn't be rewarded with starvation and eviction. And, by the way, they need their trainee back to provide help with the things they cannot do for themselves."

Spears raised an eyebrow. This suddenly fierce little bantam cock had never before offered so much as an opinion on the weather. "What do you recommend, Mr. Humphries?"

"We should return Brandon to full pay, as he can do paperwork at home. It doesn't matter where his desk is, as long as the work is done. Anders can remain at one-half. That will pay their rent. I have completed the paperwork. Sign here, please. I have prepared a memo to the Administrator asking that the Rules be amended in the case of two injured partners sharing an apartment."

Oh. How had Will overlooked the fact that two Partners on half-pay could not cover the rent on an apartment in Association housing?

"Sign here. Thanks. Their trainee will bring them meals from the Cafeteria. Here's the form confirming him in Junior status. He's got the makings of a fine Reaper if this episode doesn't send him into one of the support services. He'll move in with his Seniors to provide live-in nursing and run any errands necessary. His housing payment will be transferred from the dorms to the apartment. We're issuing him vouchers for their food; I'll pay for them if you don't want it coming out of Extraordinary Expenses."

At that point Will dug in his heels. It was too early in the year to deplete the Budget. Alan assumed the cost of the vouchers. This rebounded a week afterwards, during Spears' traditional morning comment about Slingby's state of dress. Beyond the usual undone buttons and tie, Slingby's trousers had obvious mending through a dark stain all down the left leg.

Slingby slowly straightened up, tilted his head, fixed Spears with a scythe-your-ignorant-ass glare, and spoke as a Senior to a conspicuously untalented peachfuzz trainee.

"Will, do not bitch about me uniform. Ye've refused to feed our Scousers while they recover from serious hurt. For shame, Reaper. The entire Division knows that Alan's pawned his bolo slide and watch to help buy meals for them. Even with his Academy job he can't pay for their food plus his own, which means I am feeding him instead of replacing clothing torn in the performance of my duty. Which, incidentally, involved dealing with the devils that attacked our Scousers. Either start taking proper care of yer injured staff, or get used to seeing mended trews." An unholy, unkindly light kindled in Slingby's eye. "Or I could always wear me kilt. Clan Buchanan. Ye'll love it. Outshines a lighthouse. Alan hangs it in the closet to scare the mice."

Spears was taken aback. Slingby had not given him a direct rebuke since shortly after Will had entered Management. This man had contributed greatly to his earliest training, yet Will had mentally demoted him to a mere unruly subordinate. Respect for one's instructors was held as a holy duty in the Realm.

Spears spent a morning comparing his Branch's salary structure to the current cost of food, housing, equipment and uniforms. London costs had risen sharply in recent years. The base pay of a senior Collections agent was adequate only as long as he remained active. Spears' own salary was the only one in the Branch that had risen to compensate. Suddenly Grell's increased laments about being unable to afford her cosmetics gained meaning.

Spears reproved himself for having failed to notice that Humphries' bolo strings were tied in a bow. He looked up the tartan of the Clan Buchanan and winced.

He approved food vouchers for Anders and Brandon. He filled out the form to give Alan the raise he should have received upon promotion. He made a note to have Alan negotiate for raises all round in the next Budget, using this case as a prime proof of need. He called Alan in, handed him a reimbursement check, and apologized.

As soon as they had returned home, Alan wrapped his arms around Eric. Eric enthusiastically reciprocated. He kissed the top of Alan's head. "What's this then? Yer trembling, my Light. Are ye unwell? Is Will giving ye grief?"

Alan pressed his forehead to Eric's shoulder. "He apologized. To me. That is so wrong. Surely the Apocalypse is upon us."

"World hasn't ended yet, more's the pity. If it had, we could sleep late. Will's paying for the food vouchers?"

"Yes. He repaid me and approved the raise I was supposed to get. Don't get used to it, though. We'll lose it soon enough if he's trying to buy my future silence. He holds the business of the Branch far above the welfare of his Reapers. It never occurs to him to consider his employees' needs; all his loyalty is upwards or centered on Grell. I can't let it pass when he allows the Rules to treat everyone else badly."

"Then I think yer aiming yer stubbornness in the right direction. Good fer ye."

"He's not malicious. It's just a complete lack of comprehension. Was he always like this?"

"Not so much at first, but y' know what time does to Reapers. More-so's disease. We become like ourselves only more so."

Alan sighed. Eric kissed him again and released him. "At least we'll be able to get yer watch and tie slide out of hock. And my earring and chain. He never noticed they were gone."

"I need to save up and buy something small and valuable to pawn in emergencies. The bolo is only silver with a minimal value for rarity. Just in case we find ourselves between jobs and locked out some day, limited to whatever we have on our persons at the time."

Well. This was new. Alan, his stroppy reckless Alan, was frightened. But banishment had happened once. Eric had thought Alan had stopped having nightmares about it. Better work this out now. They headed towards the kitchen.

"Money is always tight these days, but let me add my savings to yours. When we save enough I propose we buy a pair of simple platinum wedding bands. Always available, a greater value, relatively unnoticeable and not easy to lose in a fight. They'll hold their value better than cash."

"Rings can catch on claws, though. That might be dangerous, even under gloves."

Eric reached for the tea tin that held his spare funds. What little was there looked lonely. "Our first purchase, when we have the money, can be two cheap but reliable watches to keep as a backup. That'll allow us to pawn or sell both good ones if we're broke but still working. A flat gold chain like mine can be hidden under your shirt. Another, shorter but heavier, could be attached to a cheap pocket watch. Everyone would think it was gold-washed brass. Your bolo slide could be a better metal or conceal a valuable stone. Precious metals and gems can be sold in either the Reaper or Human Realm, but the watches have to be sold here if they're too advanced. Let's talk to the Pawnbroker about what holds its value best. But we shall have rings one day. Thatcher and McCain wear 'em and have had no problem."

Alan smiled. "If you are sure there's no hazard, I'd like very much to exchange rings."

"It's an acceptable risk," said Eric. "Traditional, too. One reason for wedding rings has always been that the surviving spouse has something to sell in an emergency."

"Oh. I remember when we first started getting additional staff," said Alan. "Remember Thorsson? Thorsson wore a ring. He seceded shortly after he was assigned here. I wonder if he pawned it to buy a start in the Human Realm. We just need enough to fund a head start if things go bad, or to support somebody who's caught between Will and a hard place."

"I remember," said Eric. "But Thorsson never intended to stay out-realm. He and his wife only needed to hide until they got the transfer overturned. The Human Realm is not a good long-term option for us. Every few years people will notice we don't age. Confirmed bachelors attract blackmailers, and hiding the bodies is tedious. There's also some evidence that living outside increases our tendency to madness."

Moreover, Eric thought but did not say, soon enough the Human Realm will become a very bad place for an undocumented male, or any male of an age to be made a soldier. A lower-management job in the London Branch would not be safe either. He did not want Alan to be swept into battlefield reaping. To stay together when the shooting started, they needed to be essential to the Academy.

"You're protecting people from the narrowest interpretation of the Rules. This is a good thing. Always remember, my Light, that Spears needs you more than you need this job. We can demand a transfer to another city, and appeal to the Administrator if he blocks it. We can teach full-time at the Academy. Also, Alan, I've been training Juniors for ages. Quite a few of my previous apprentices are now managers in other Branches. We can be set down homeless and broke anywhere in the Realm and find work the same day. You know we can always bunk in the Academy dorms. They'd love to have us on-site and available for more classes. I think that Will would consider the loss of two Seniors over a difference of opinion to be inefficient. He is not a bad man, nor a stupid one. Just strict, because at heart he thinks it's our only path to Forgiveness."

Alan relaxed. "You're right, of course. I'm overreacting. I'm having those dreams again, and it's just the stress of learning something new. And it's true that we have other options if we need them. For the moment, I still have a management position. Maybe I can ease Will's interpretation of the rules while dealing with the endless administrivia." He looked up at his partner, a deep need in his eyes. "But why don't we take advantage of our current happiness? Dinner can wait..."

Dinner waited a long time. Eric left his partner sleeping and returned to the kitchen to make a cup of tea and do some constructive worrying. This promotion had placed Alan in opposition to a man he had obeyed unconditionally for years, the only boss he'd ever had. Fight a demon? Every day before breakfast. Defy Will? Only once; well, twice now. It required learning a new sort of courage.

Eric looked at the potted plant on the windowsill. Ivy: friendship, fidelity, marriage, wedded love. Over the door, a sprig of mistletoe: kiss me, I surmount difficulties. Alan would gain confidence in his new responsibilities. But there would be rings. Just in case.