Anubis hesitated when she said "know his secrets." What secrets, exactly? It felt like something he should guard closely, protect with his life, although when he really thought about it, he wasn't even sure what secrets he had that could be dangerous or that he felt uncomfortable sharing with others. Still, it felt like a risk. But, then again, all his research was a risk. No risks taken, nothing gained.

So he nodded. "I'm sure. I will...resist, as best I can. You may listen in, if you'd like." He would have to keep things surface level, then, and not probe too deep. He would rather not reveal too much about his own self to Giggle, who he could tell, so far, thought him as only a curious, innocent child. She knew nothing of the dead rats, dripping oil, the withering fungus he inflicted, not even Aati. No need to give her a hint of it.

"I'm ready." That was the last hint Giggle got before he turned and stepped out of the circle of fungus, towards the nearest patch of white and leaned forward, pressing his nose into it and inhaling the spores. It smelled...weird. Like rot, but also like nothing. Clear, clean, but disgusting. He leaned back and sneezed, coughing out the unpleasant taste that lingered on his tongue. Well, about what he was expecting. It was a fungus, after all.

Anubis waited, patiently, as the fungus made their changes known. He noticed it immediately and didn't resist - no, he allowed it in, careful to keep a hold of himself. But he was surprised at how quickly logic was slipping away. This felt so good, so nice, so different then anything else he'd experienced. He'd spent his life alone until now, but this was a promise of something better. Allies, friends, family. He'd be a part of something. One part of a whole, one piece in a many-faceted self and it brought joy to him.

He didn't like it.

He wanted to lash back at it, to do something to purge it from his mind, because it made him feel sick, the happiness and familiarity. No, no he wasn't meant to be with others - he was meant to study alone with the rats, testing, learning, discovering, but never changing.

But he could feel the gentle brush of Giggle's magic and he reminded himself why he was doing this. So he calmed himself, welcomed it in again and surrendered to it.

He closed his eyes, focusing on that sensation and reached out mentally, though not magically. Who are you? What are you?

Anubis was in mental conflict. One side, the rational side that was slowly slipping away, was telling him to cut it off now. Giggle said it would take his autonomy away. It would make him be a cog in a machine he wanted no part in. The other side, the emotional side, told him to give in. She understood him, didn’t she? She would accept him, not shun him. Praise his experiments. They would be used for something, put to good instead of growing dust in his cave and brain. All his knowledge…it would be useful.

He would be useful.

A third side, some meld of the two, told him to keep it open, let it strengthen. There wasn’t enough here to cut it off. He hadn’t learned enough. And the distraction of the Mother was difficult to get around as well. He would have to come back to this, perhaps when things had settled down

If they ever did.

He knew he should tell Giggle to stop it now. He knew he should listen to her. She was anchoring his reason. She was keeping him here. But he just needed…he needed more time!

He looked visibly stressed as he fought for this choice. He shook his head to Giggle and, in a sudden move and a desperate grab for more, she lunged towards the patch of white and began devouring it. Anything to get more of the spores in his system, strengthen the connection as quickly as possible. He breathed in the spores, swallowed as much of the disgusting fungus as he could. It was a strange, desperate frenzy that came without warning.