.

The next week, Saturn collapsed, just as Ae had warned her, and Moon was called up to a meeting with all the planets. Saturn was the only semi-leader they had (aside from the sun) and she was like the binding of a book - held everything together so nothing got lost or scattered. So her being unwell was a pretty big deal. 

Moon was dressed in an all-black satin suit, paired with black heels that made her look like some sort of forbidden businessman, or, if you were feeling quirky, a mafia leader. 

And then she was ready to go. 

She waved goodbye to the water spirits and then closed the door behind her. 

The room where the planets gathered was a big one, inside a large warehouse that had been refurbished lavishly with rugs, antiques, and expansive food. It was a large room for one reason and one reason only: If the planets saw each other for too long, it would always end in a fight. 

Moon didn't move as someone tapped her shoulder and then whispered in her ear.

"This is boring. How about we go somewhere alone, darling?"

Moon rolled her eyes and jabbed her heels backward into Venus's shoe. There was a grunt of pain, and then he stepped back. Moon glared at him icily. 

"Saturn is unwell. Have some respect at least."

Venus held his hands up and stepped back. Moon turned around with a huff and then realized a bit too late that everyone was staring at her. Venus's new obsession with her had been a recent thing - and since the planets all kept to themselves so much, they probably hadn't even known that Venus ever talked to Moon, much less shamelessly flirted with her. 

Jupiter, the most popular planet since he had a total of 95 moons, piped, "You aren't…?" His sharp red eyes paused on Moon, and his gray hair was slightly ruffled. Moon quite disliked Jupiter - especially since he had such a dangerous power. He could make a planet feel pain, jealousy, love, hate, whatever. It worked especially well on mortals as well, which is why Moon had usually steered clear of him. 

"No." Moon snapped, at the same time that Venus said, "We are." Now they had the planets' full attention, and then Uranus, who had been sitting in a stuffed armchair until then, piped, "I don't agree with Venus. Better to listen to Merra, who's always sensible. She can keep a straight head at least." Merra was how she was addressed - the words "Moon" and "Terra" combined to create "Merra", which was how all the planets knew her when other moons were present. If not, there would simply have been too many moons, and it would have been chaos. 

As everyone fell into murmurs of agreement, and Venus cast a sour look across the room to Uranus, who flinched and pretended to be reading a book, Moon internally thanked Uranus. She'd have to say it in person too, later. Finally, she peered back at Venus, who was still a step behind her from the heel attack. 

"Don't talk to me for the rest of your time here," Moon said icily. Then there was a cold silence between them for a minute or two before she turned around to find some food. The water spirits never did know how to cook - everything became soggy when they touched it, and Moon had always been mediocre at cooking. 

In the corner, Moon found a nice plate of salted caviar pasta, along with a glass of wine. Peaceful music played - by the sound of the notes, probably harp, giving a dull, drowsy vibe to the whole place. It was fitting anyway - a somber mood was more realistic, considering Saturn was not very well. A disco party would be quite rude. 

Thoughtfully, Moon took a sip of her wine, lost in her thoughts. Then someone tapped her shoulder. Slightly expecting to see Venus, she turned around but instead was greeted by Neptune, wearing a cobalt corset that showed off her narrow dress and a shimmering, diamond-blue satin skirt. Her dark skin clashed beautifully with the blue, and her eyes were a bright, pure flame blue. Her white hair was braided into long ringlets that reached her shoulders.

"We both look quite wealthy today. How are you, Neptune?" Moon said with a slight smile on her face. Neptune was the youngest twin to Uranus, and the two were usually inseparable, but today she was here alone. 

"Good, Merra. You?" Neptune said, also taking a glass of wine from the tray next to her. Neptune, youngest though she might be, had always possessed a sort of mature charm. Even now, she possessed a calm allure, like a blue lake. 

"Where is Uranus, if you don't mind me asking?" Moon asked. Neptune looked at her glass and said, "We haven't talked in a few weeks." Moon, as usual, tried not to act surprised. "Can I ask why?"

Neptune sighed, shifting slightly. Her skirt glittered. "He started following that son of a–" She sighed, then "You know, anyways, that thing's become a puppet." 

Moon continued sipping the wine, and then apologetically said, though somewhat amused with her almost-cursing, "You always have me, Neptune, even if we don't meet too often." Neptune smiled at that, and then put her wine glass, now empty, down. 

"Thanks, Merra. I'll get going now - but it was certainly nice seeing you again. It's been almost a year." The planet held two fingers to her temples, an old sign of greeting among the planets, and smiled. Moon, who had forgotten that greeting even existed, hurriedly held two fingers to her temple in response. Then Neptune sashayed out of the room. 

Moon was considering leaving as well. This was just a way for them to gather and regain their bearings in Saturn's absence - along with giving their well wishes to Saturn, which she had already done, adding a rare blue diamond and a box of chocolates to the pile of presents which were already prepared for Saturn. As she was mulling this over, she saw someone out of the corner of her eye, and almost everything else in her mental capacity seemed to focus on that figure.