“I wouldn’t even know where to go that would be away from the main factions…” she says softly, looking up at him through her lashes. It makes her look younger than she is, like a little sister looking to an older brother for advice. It was a manipulative tactic she’d learned at The Menagerie. The more innocent she looked, the bigger the price the clients paid. Heleen liked her girls to look young. Some habits don’t break as easily as others— she doesn’t even realize she’s doing it.

She nods and, careful not to startle him and with her motions perfectly telegraphed so he could stop her if he wanted; she reaches to wrap her fingers around his own and squeeze gently. “This is important, too.” To regroup. To spend a little bit of time with someone she’s growing to trust more as time goes on.