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[oohforeshadowing]

Let me get back to you, darling.

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[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."

[oohforeshadowing]

"Is that your way of politely dismissing me, warden?" Trouble drawls, making no indication that they're ready to be dismissed. "I could have a drink myself."

[toabsolution]

He shoots them a cautious look. "You gonna be good?" he mutters, leading the way to the Lounge.

[oohforeshadowing]

"Absolutely, darling," Trouble tells him brightly. "Your drinks really don't seem to have much effect on me."

[toabsolution]

"That ain't what I meant."

He opens the door for them anyway. "What did you and the kid talk about anyway?"

[oohforeshadowing]

"Oh, you know. Our respective homes and histories. He's an interesting character, I'm glad you introduced us."

[toabsolution]

"Yeah? We got here the same time. Same day, I think. He hauled off and killed someone, but I'm fond of him."

He leads them to a table. "What do you want?"

[oohforeshadowing]

"Do you know how to make a Midori Sour, darling?"

It's green. Never let it be said they can't adhere to a theme.

[toabsolution]

He hesitates. "No. Maybe you should get your own drink."

Because he has no idea what that is.

[oohforeshadowing]

"Nothing would please me more."

They get up and saunter behind the bar, grabbing a luridly green bottle of Midori so they can get started.

"What about you, darling, what's your poison?"