EIGHTH SHOT

[dog_eat_dog]

[Dictated quite cheerfully:]

Wish me happy birthday, people, I'm 40 years old today and therefore officially old.

Comments

Ben

[dog_eat_dog]

What tripped you up?

Tess

[indirectcause]

[A confused pause on Ben's end] How do you mean?

Re: Tess

[dog_eat_dog]

Why couldn't you get past the guards?

Tess

[indirectcause]

The hypothetical guards?

I'm not exactly stealthy.

Ben

[dog_eat_dog]

It's not fucking hard to be stealthy.

Tess

[indirectcause]

You're talking to me, remember?

Ben

[dog_eat_dog]

Yeah, and I expect you to pull it together like everyone else.

Tess

[indirectcause]

I- I'd try. [He has zero faith in himself that he can do anything like that]

Ben

[dog_eat_dog]

Like your life depended on it?

Tess

[indirectcause]

I guess I wouldn't have much choice.

Ben

[dog_eat_dog]

Right. So you do or die.

Tess

[indirectcause]

Again.

Ben

[dog_eat_dog]

Yeah, again. You fancy doing it a second time?

Tess

[indirectcause]

Not really, no. The first time was shitty enough.

Ben

[dog_eat_dog]

Then you learn to get around security.

Tess

[indirectcause]

That's where you learn their schedules, right? When the best time to slip through is?

Ben

[dog_eat_dog]

Right. I kept tons of their schedules, made sure they were up to date on a weekly basis.

Tess

[indirectcause]

Did they ever surprise you by changing it up suddenly?

Ben

[dog_eat_dog]

Sometimes, but that's why you need tabs on everything. Know people who will let you know if they see any change.

Tess

[indirectcause]

Eyes and ears everywhere, huh?

Ben

[dog_eat_dog]

That's how I do it. Make a lot of acquaintances.

Tess

[indirectcause]

It's a good way to survive.

Ben

[dog_eat_dog]

It is. Always call in favours, always keep people owing you.

Tess

[indirectcause]

But to have people owing you, you've got to help them, first, right?

Ben

[dog_eat_dog]

Sure. Why do you think I'm looking out for you? Or making nice with Lee over Clem, or taking people out for drinks all the time? Hell, I found a doctor I could just threaten and she'd do anything for me. Gotta have connections, especially now that I've got Ellie to look out for too.