"Won't that... make they want to set your things on fire, too?"

"Most people don't like burning things as much as I do, firestarter."

"That was mostly a stand-in for other forms of antisocial behavior."

"No. I've proved that we're one step ahead." 

"Hmmm, I'm not sure I'd expect them to take it that way, but you know them better."

His fingers drum the wheel.

"What would you have suggested, if we'd met last night?"

"I'd... need significantly more information, but my go-to strategy would be manipulation, of the overt kind if I could get away with it, subtly if I couldn't. Figure out what they want, how badly they want it, how large the information asymmetry is, and see how I could use those things in my favor."

"Oh, I don't know. I like being direct." 

"Well, I prefer being indirect. If I do it in a way that makes other people like me and, well, depend on me and trust me..."

"Not a bad idea. I prefer fear, but I guess it's a matter of taste." 

"In the long run, people liking you makes them less likely to do things you don't want them to do, I think."

"Oh no, I get that. I've done that. Just not sure I want to do that with my enemies."

"Helps that I don't really... think that way? It seems more helpful to get me things I want to just think of other people as 'occasionally having values and incentives that are misaligned with mine.' Then they can get aligned and everyone profits. It's how capitalism works."

"He'd better not mess this one up."

The rest of the ride passes in (awkward? contemplative?) silence.

There are never awkward silences around Sadde! The conversation merely winded to a close.

Well, after their conversation fails to wind up again, they arrive.

"It was nice meeting you, firestarter."

"Nice meeting you, too," she says, smiling.

And back up into her apartment she goes to tell her mom about her day and what the fuck that family is terrifying.

Alistair wakes up. Goes to school. Comes home.

He practices magic. He thinks about Sadde.

His phone rings.

Oh god oh god oh god-

"Hello? This is he."

"—you sound nervous, everything alright?"

"No, I'm good. I hope you don't hate me after last night. That was...family dinner."

"I don't hate you." Pause. "Or any of them."

"I would understand if you did. It can be a lot to handle, and I really shouldn't have let them at you right after we met."

"Trust me, I'm the last person who would judge you based on your family. No, actually, I was wondering if you were free Friday night."