[ he ... tries to consider that, to trace back to the number of conversations they've had, to a point where marta would have easily lied, even if just from some sarcastic joke — and he realizes that he can't say she ever has, not in any way that he'd be able to tell, and with her nerves, he knows he'd be able to pick up on it easily if she did.
though he wouldn't have thought it'd be as easy as noting it by her just suddenly throwing up. ]
any lie? even a joke? even just changing a single detail? no undercover whatsoever?
[ he's got plenty of questions to this, most that he'd be more curious to learn in person since attention to people is what's always provided the best answers. but right now, she's concerned about the mission, and possibly for good reason.
almost nothing comes without a lie. everyone lies, and his methods of survival have always revolved around that very fact.
he ponders it for a minute before, ]
you'll be alright.
[ maybe a premature assumption, but he likes to think he's good with a plan. ]
you can stick with me.
there are ways to get by without lying. and in the scenarios where you can't, i'll cover for you.
[ it's like a slap on the wrist, honestly, it's the wake up call she needs. she has no doubt he could find more than enough capable people to patch him up should he need it but... it's not helping anyone (not her, not harlan) to refuse such help. ]
Already anticipating getting hurt? You don't believe in jinxing yourself, do you.
i'm still breathing, right? so, yeah, 10 out of 10 chance i'll get into some kind of fight at some point.
[ is it really jinxing himself if he already knows the pattern? ]
i was already figuring i could try some official investigative work out there. practically the kind of stuff i've been doing anyway. use it under the guise of luring out some local criminals while looking for the orb. wouldn't actually be a lie, so if you help me with that, you could go around asking more questions than you'd need to answer.
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though he wouldn't have thought it'd be as easy as noting it by her just suddenly throwing up. ]
any lie? even a joke? even just changing a single detail? no undercover whatsoever?
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I know it sounds crazy, but dishonesty has always made me anxious. And when I'm anxious enough...
What am I supposed to do with that?
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almost nothing comes without a lie. everyone lies, and his methods of survival have always revolved around that very fact.
he ponders it for a minute before, ]
you'll be alright.
[ maybe a premature assumption, but he likes to think he's good with a plan. ]
you can stick with me.
there are ways to get by without lying. and in the scenarios where you can't, i'll cover for you.
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I'm sorry.
I wasn't trying to dump this on you. It's my problem, not yours.
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[ figures she's going to worry about it just like she's worrying about everything else. ]
this isn't a favor. i help you, you help me. who else is gonna be stitching up my ass when i get it beat out there?
i'm gonna need you.
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Already anticipating getting hurt? You don't believe in jinxing yourself, do you.
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[ is it really jinxing himself if he already knows the pattern? ]
i was already figuring i could try some official investigative work out there. practically the kind of stuff i've been doing anyway. use it under the guise of luring out some local criminals while looking for the orb. wouldn't actually be a lie, so if you help me with that, you could go around asking more questions than you'd need to answer.
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That's a good point... I'd probably do a lot better if the focus wasn't on me.
...Thank you, Kovacs. I feel a lot better.
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don't sweat it.
you'll be fine. just worry about getting your good leather pants together, pack up some bandages, and i'll take care of the rest.
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Right. It'll be fine.
[ at the very least, she won't be alone. and that is, perhaps, the biggest shock of all. ]