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[oohforeshadowing]

Let me get back to you, darling.

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[toabsolution]

"Yeah, I know. That's the other reason. You haven't ever not answered my questions." Only when he was being a dick to them, which he knows is his own fault. Doesn't mean it won't continue to happen, but at least he takes responsibility for it.

"This is the kinda place where people do whatever they can, huh? Just to survive."

[oohforeshadowing]

"Very much. Of course I'd love to tell you about the hard-won sense of camaraderie, the lifelong bonds forged in desert heat, but...well, I certainly never met two people here who wouldn't sell each other out for two coins and a hot meal."

[toabsolution]

He glances around, up towards the sky, the heat oppressive already.

"Nah, you wouldn't. This place ain't that sort." Certainly tells him a lot more about Trouble, though. "Do what you can to survive, right? Make promises and keep them just long enough to get by?"

[oohforeshadowing]

"Precisely. Or, in my case, make promises in character as someone they'll never see again."

[toabsolution]

"Yeah, that makes sense. Can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing," he says with a shrug, mulling it over. "Doesn't mean it's right but...bein' right sometimes means sacrifice."

[oohforeshadowing]

Trouble laughs.

"Please, warden. Where else do you want to take me while we're on that guilt trip?"

[toabsolution]

He shoots them a glance, smirking. He gets less defensive about being called out now that it's happened....constantly.

"Don't know. I can go pretty far with it. Got some pretty sad fucking stories I can make up."

He waves a hand in their direction. "It's not what I meant to do. Just tryin' to figure this shit out."

[oohforeshadowing]

"Oh, darling, there's nothing to figure out. I've prioritized my own survival since I can remember and the Admiral does not approve. The situation is direly uncompelling."

[toabsolution]

He is not convinced. "Yeah, I got that. And you fucked over other people for it," he reminds them, though there's no bite in his words. "I'm not givin' you a lecture, by the way. I know I can't throw stones about it."

[oohforeshadowing]

"You're still slightly giving me a lecture," they say mildly. "But I'm not going to apologize for it. It was them or me."

[toabsolution]

"I ain't askin' you to apologize for it. Ain't askin' you to do anythin' about it right now," he insists.

[oohforeshadowing]

"Mmmm." They manage to pack an awful lot of doubt into one humming noise. "So what are you going to do, warden?"

[toabsolution]

"Do you just call me that to annoy me?" he wonders. "And I don't know what I'm gonna do. Figure out how to help you get the hell out of here and live your goddamn life. What do you want me to do?"

[oohforeshadowing]

"Precisely that, if you have to do anything," they suppose. "But if you're going to work out what that is by ruling out what you won't do....well, it's a strategy."

[toabsolution]

He spreads his arms out. "I'm not going to pretend I have all of the answers. Or any of the answers. All I'm sayin' is that I like your fucking sarcastic self and I want to help you because I want to help. Not because some damn guy on a god-trip told me to," he says, almost in a mutter.

"So just stick with me a while and I'll do my best, huh?"

[oohforeshadowing]

Trouble's ears twitch upward and they look delighted.

"You like me?"

[toabsolution]

He gives them a grunt in response.

"Yeah. Against my better judgement." He starts to turn to walk back to the door.

[oohforeshadowing]

"You're such a sweetheart!" Trouble singsongs, and is very much flexible enough to cling to Jake in a side-hug while matching his pace.

[toabsolution]

He heaves a soft sigh as he walks, looking very put out. He accepts their weight with a hesitant step, but he does put an arm around them, just for half a second, before opening the door to return to the Barge.

"Get off me."

[oohforeshadowing]

"Oh? So harsh. What if I slipped into something more comfortable?"

And now it's Tess plastered up against him.

[toabsolution]

"Fucking hell, Trouble!" he shouts slightly, pushing them away quickly. "What's that for anyway?"

He deliberately looks away.

That definitely wasn't an overreaction.

[oohforeshadowing]

Trouble is back, with an even wider grin than usual.

"Mostly the look on your face, darling."

[toabsolution]

"Well don't do it again," he huffs, adjusting his vest and shirt. "Ain't nothin' good about turnin' into people here."

[oohforeshadowing]

"Oh, that seems terribly narrow-minded," Trouble tuts. "I can think of plenty of circumstances when it would be useful!"

[toabsolution]

He shrugs a bit, trying to maintain his composure. "Yeah, well, keep it to yourself next time," he grumbles. "I need a drink."