Aramis glows with pride, grinning wide against the curve of Athos' throat. "If any have the smallest fraction of your goodness," he tells Porthos, "And I know they have, your investment will be returned. And one day when we have the knack for it, we will take them in, too."

Hugging Athos to himself, no small feat when they are all entangled, Aramis hums. "You see? We are still the same mad creatures you have always been tied to."