Listening to the parts of the discussion that were shared aloud, Rogue couldn't help but be pleased that they seemed to be embracing the idea of change more than anything. Much of the credit for their outlook could likely be attributed to Todd, with the way he'd led the hive by thinking outside the box and doing what was necessary even if that meant doing something new and different.

After dinner, Rogue returned to Todd's room and hauled out one of the books she'd been working on reading, along with the key that Todd had written out for her. It seemed like years had passed since then. Settling down at the desk, she spent a long while poring over the strange characters that were at least passably familiar to her now, and occasionally she would make a note on the edge of the key about something that she didn't understand, hoping to ask Todd or one of the others about it later.

Since she didn't know when or if to expect Todd back that night, she just continued working for as long as she could before her eyes tired along with the rest of her. It was like the old days of teaching at the mansion, staying up late to grade papers until her eyes were so fuzzy that she couldn't see straight. She'd rest her eyes for just a moment, she decided, laying her head on her arm on the desk, but just a moment became a long while as she fell fully into sleep. She didn't so much as twitch when he entered the room, she was so accustomed to the eerie sound of the door opening now.