when you're racing in the rapids, there's only one way; that's to ride

He did have to thank whatever stars were watching Aionios that they didn't try to make him Elder, when Guernica passed. 'Course, they never would, due to Houses, but. Lucky Monica had a good enough head to handle it on her own, 'stead of siphoning his support behind locked doors.

He'd do whatever it took. She knew that. However, he'd do it his way, or not at all, most like. She knew that too, but tried to ignore it, or change it, or work around - until she learned not to.

Not a Vandham, but still, in with 'em for life.