[Misty - for all her willingness to entertain the idea of rebellion when she's talked to Barge folks about the subject - has been doing her level best to bury any personal negative feelings about her new situation. It's not for practical purposes: she's pretty good at putting on a game face regardless of what she's feeling inside. It's simply that the idea of confronting the magnitude of her loss, and the outpouring of grief that it could bring on, terrifies her. Better to just brute-force cheerfulness, work with what she's got - whether that means working on getting a deal here, conspiring to help prison-break so that they can get back to the Barge, or playing both sides at once so that she'll come out okay no matter how things shake out - and not let the world and all its setbacks get her down.
But Taylor's words hit her, unexpectedly, like a physical blow, and her face cycles through several emotions in quick succession: anger, hurt, sorrow.]
Don't say that.
[She whispers, curling her arms more tightly around herself.]
[Taylor doesn't look away from her face fast enough, and the hurt there saps the stiffness out of her shoulders.]
... Sorry. I know. I'm just- I didn't get demoted. I just got- forked. And I don't want to play along with it, and that- [A gesture to the file under Misty's arm.]
Rags and I never even finished reading it. I don't want to share it with anyone else.
[Taylor can't send her reaction into the swarm, so the resigned hurt is there for a moment for Misty to see. She's not surprised. But she didn't want this. Her lips press thin, and she nods once.]
I can't get you your deal here, Assistant. They've forked you too.
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[She asks, genuinely perplexed.]
Are you worried I'm going to blab to people? Because I won't, obviously.
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[She corrects, tucking the file under her arm so that she can cross her arms: tilting her head, frowning in thought, taking this question seriously.]
Because you... miss Rags? Or, no, wait - you're upset about being demoted. Or both!
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[It looks like a smile, but it isn’t one. Her eyes are sunken and narrowed, and it doesn’t touch them.]
You’re not going to assist me by playing along with this bullshit, so I don’t want you reading that. Give it to me.
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[And she's fully ready to take that out on someone else.]
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But Taylor's words hit her, unexpectedly, like a physical blow, and her face cycles through several emotions in quick succession: anger, hurt, sorrow.]
Don't say that.
[She whispers, curling her arms more tightly around herself.]
You didn't even know him.
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... Sorry. I know. I'm just- I didn't get demoted. I just got- forked. And I don't want to play along with it, and that- [A gesture to the file under Misty's arm.]
Rags and I never even finished reading it. I don't want to share it with anyone else.
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[She says, her voice quivering. ]
Besides, I already read some of it.
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I can't get you your deal here, Assistant. They've forked you too.
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[Don't look at her like that, gosh. ]
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[Misty looks around for a place to sit - taking a seat, if she finds one, and holding the file on her lap.]
It's better than doing nothing.
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[Misty says, forcing a smile onto her face.]
What do you need? Are you--
[She lowers her voice conspiratorially.]
Rebelling?
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I'd be a liability to any effort.
How much did you read?
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Can I have the file?
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[She curls her fingers around the edge of the file.]
Are you worried I'd betray you, or wouldn't support you?
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[She eyes the file, and it's plain she's thinking of snatching it away from her.]
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[Misty frowns, tightening her grip, her nails leaving little marks on the paper.]
If I give you this, you'll shove me out the door and avoid me for the rest of our pairing!
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