[After her birthday celebration, Esther is getting ready for another day of work, not really thinking about things until the sun comes up...]

What?! What is this? What has happened to my clothes?! I can't go to work like this today! No one is going to take me seriously dressed as a Persian courtesan!

[Text to Lilith]
Ebony! Need another girl with me on this. Get back to me when you can.

Hello, godlings. Have you missed us?

I am pleased at how well your progress is coming along. Some of you know where you must go. Some of you have even acquired your first artifacts. There is more to be done, of course, but I am pleased thus far. Soon, you will not need to hide behind your current shells.

That does, however, beg a question. Can you be trusted to be yourselves again? Can the world be trusted to handle you? There is only one way to find out.

Your test begins at sunrise tomorrow, on the Equinox. It ends at sunrise the next day. We will be watching you.

I realize I'm probably the only one celebrating, but happy Purim, all! This is my holiday.

So... if I'm a little hard to reach for the next day or so, that's why. Per the tradition, time to drink up until I can no longer distinguish between arur Haman and baruch Mordechai.

How frightening. Virginia's state legislature is trying to pass a law that will allow the State to basically force doctors to medically rape their female patients that are seeking abortive services. Among other atrocities.

What is this world coming to?

Miladies,

As Knight of the Goddess, I feel it is only fitting I send you all a Valentine's Day greeting. Regardless of whether you have a significant other, may you experience much love and happiness this day! It is truly an honor for this knight to know you all.

Yours,

Sir Gawain

[It wasn't quite Valentine's Day yet when a wood carved box and flowers arrives by special delivery to Esther. The card reads: "Because it's fun to actually be the one sending these things, and because everyone should get Valentines. Even if it's just from a friend. -E"]

[Hada went to the Holocaust Museum that Saturday. It was fairly quiet--people probably had more pressing things in preparation for the holidays than to worry about remembrance of the Jews. As she came to the last room, filled with candles burning in vigil for those lost, she noticed something in a tiny drawer that she couldn't remember having seen before...]

[Phone Call to Lilith]

Ebony? Or... Lilith? It's... Esther. I found something.

All right. I don't know who's in charge of this site, but if you keep getting repeat requests for membership from one of the senators from Rhode Island, I'm probably to blame. Sorry. The pages kept printing off in the office, and he picked one up thinking it was his. He said he couldn't get it to work, though. But I did, and I'm set up now.

Anyway, introductions are in order, yes? I'm Hada Morgenstern, and I work as a lobbyist on Capitol Hill.

Who are all of you?

This holiday needs to be shot. I hear one more Christmas song chiming through my office, then no sexy skirt line or bra reveal is going to keep the secretary her job. I've got three other girls ready to do a much better job than that, honey. Be glad I haven't destroyed all of New York, even with the brat back.