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[stand_unshaken]

 

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[dog_eat_dog]

Her gaze drifts to the gun at first, but then to his hand. She lingers on a moment and then puts her hand out to shake.

"Bill Cipher and Freeza have a speakeasy for the inmates," she replies. "They're easy enough to get along with for now, and I hope I have leverage by solving their supply issue, but they both have powers, and neither is particularly interested in graduating."

It's not all of it, but it's a start.

[stand_unshaken]

He shakes her hand, first of all, and then listens to her.

It's a strange notion. A place to have alcohol, on the quiet, when there's an actual saloon - well, at least this one might only be accessible to inmates. That might be a point in its favor.

"So they're bad folks paradin' as good ones, so they can get favors. What do you want favors from them for?"

[dog_eat_dog]

"I just wanted the leverage for now," she replies, and she could kick herself, but it's true. "They've been relying on me for the booze supply, so I wanted them to owe me when I did need something."

She shrugs.

Pathetic.

[stand_unshaken]

"I ain't sayin' this to have a go at you, but what could they realistically give you that I wouldn't?"

He's seriously given you a gun, and did so within weeks of first being paired. What else?

[dog_eat_dog]

Tess looks away for a moment. That part's hard to explain. It feels like shit to get caught, but it feels worse when it might be a dig at him, too. She folds her arms.

"All I have is my pride, Arthur, I don't want to just ask you for things," she says. "And I need a back-up plan, too. Say you went into a coma. Say the Admiral sent you home, or you had somewhere else to be. Where does that leave me?"

[stand_unshaken]

He rubs a hand over his mouth and nods. "Can't rely on just one person. But there's gotta be better people than them, right? Folk who might help you, if I wasn't here."

[dog_eat_dog]

She shakes her head. Misty would help, and there are a number of wardens who would help her in a real bind, but she knows she'd rather barter with inmates than risk her pride.

"Wouldn't be the same as working with you," she says. And with a scoff: "You know, I'm pretty sure the Admiral paired us up as soon as I got here because I would have run circles around temps."

[stand_unshaken]

He snorts. "Woman, sometimes you're still runnin' circles around me."

What does she think this is, if not circles being ran?

"So it's the wardens you don't wanna work with? 'Cause they're wardens?"

[dog_eat_dog]

"And you still keep up better than any of them," she points out. "Some of the wardens are alright people, but most of them don't know what they're doing. They wouldn't have the first clue of what to do with me even if they caught me. Look at Yunlan. You think I'm going to play nice with him now that he's set the tone?"

[stand_unshaken]

"And you don't forget, neither," he agrees, understanding her point completely.

"I understand. But you still gotta think about losin' that attitude or finding different people. Because I don't plan on goin' anywhere, but if I do, and you get stuck here, or-- or leave, and die-"

[dog_eat_dog]

"I'm going to survive," she replies curtly. It would be crazy to survive twenty years of shit and then six months on the Barge just to go home and die.

But he has a point. She doesn't like it, but it's true, and for a moment she just stands there, arms still folded, eyes on the floor.

"I'm doing the best I can, alright?"

[stand_unshaken]

"I know," he says, shaking his head and straightening up a little before coming over and putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I know you are. Even the stupid bullshit's gonna help, eventually. Right?"

[dog_eat_dog]

"Yeah, hopefully all worth it in the long run," Tess replies, and she doesn't shy away at the hand on her shoulder, even if she sure as hell wants to get away from this whole miserable affair. "And hopefully... no more surprises."

[stand_unshaken]

"Here's to that," he agrees. "You-- take that gun back. And if you can, come to me if you ever feel like usin' it when you're not being attacked."

[dog_eat_dog]

There’s an unexpected rush of relief at that. She’s never had the need to use it, but not having it in the first month here felt like she needed to overcompensate in all sorts of other ways. Having it gives her options. Something to be responsible with. Being good so she can keep it.

“Thanks,” she replies, soberly. “I will.”

[stand_unshaken]

He nods, then lets out a sigh. "I'm gonna head out. Stay outta trouble."

[dog_eat_dog]

“That’s the plan,” she says. An apology sits on the edge of her tongue, and she holds it back. She’s not sure it means much. “I’ll let you know if anything happens.”