[ like heine doesn't know. rin sends him a dirty look, complete with tears and snot, then wipes at his face a third time. he feels washed out, drawn too tight. like he's the one who's just shared his story. ]

Nothing — ! Nothing.

[ the answer is too quick, too defensive, but rin doesn't want that particular line of questioning to go any further.

better, instead, to shift the focus back onto heine. to take on the authoritative tone to which he'd struggled to develop when he'd first been named captain.

if it's a little too watery for comfort, so be it. rin's glare has to be enough to fend off any further questions. ]

Still. We should try to come up with some kind of back-up plan if you're worried you might not be in control.

[ what he doesn't say: there are kids around here. little girls, even. the potential for a new crop of guilt for heine to carry around with him.

then, a little softer -- ]

You up for that?