[Cassel could speak up, coax the truth out of her. Conversely, he could let her fry under her own guilt and shame, let the 'shoulds' swallow her up and shit her out.]

[Instead, he just watches. He waits. He doesn't think about the ways in which this is all familiar to him. And when she speaks at last, he nods.]

I know what your deal is.

[A hesitation, here; it feels as though the walls are closing in. There's a spasm in his cheek. Too much work, too little time to rest.]

I . . . figured with it being what it was. You wouldn't want people to know. But the Barge doesn't - listen to what you want.