He did not see his own jawline or his own posture.

Then he looked down at their chests.

Claire had carefully fastened the blue plastic competition badges squarely to their lapels with safety pins.

The bright white block letters caught the glare of the stage lights, showing their full names in bold print.

Daniel read the names silently.

His lips moved over the syllables.

He looked back up at Eli’s eyes, then over to Owen’s face.

The corporate, dismissive posture drained entirely out of his shoulders.