"So you're not. What are you here for, then?"

Shrug. "Nick said you were nice and we should be friends."

...Well, that's a win. He thought Nick liked him, but he wasn't expecting introductions to other enclave members just yet. Unless it's meant as a reminder to stop hitting on him, which is always possible. Either way, better to take advantage of it. Plus, Karl's adorable. All earnest smiles. Like a puppy. "He said that, huh?"

"Yeah, he did. What about you, what do you think?"

"You know what I think, I think it's a fucking great idea."

The next day, Nick asks how it went, and Karl says "You were right." 

They hang out more--sometimes all three of them, sometimes Nick and Alex, sometimes Karl and Alex. (And sometimes Karl and Nick, too, it's not like they stop hanging out with each other. Or with the rest of Tampa, for that matter.) Not only to trade, sometimes just... to hang out. (And to flirt. A lot.)

Sometimes to trade, though.

"Nick, I brought the potions you wanted."

"Okay, great! Do you need anything new for it, or just the normal stuff? I'd have to check but I think Clay has some leftover supplies."

"I-- I do, actually. But you have to promise me not to tell anyone, okay? We're kind of--we're kind of keeping it quiet."

"Dunno if I can promise."

"It's not, like, it won't put you in danger or anything, just, Schlatt's-- you know." Alex laughs nervously, hand tapping out a pattern on his thigh. "Doesn't like people knowing his business."

"Makes sense. Yeah, sure, what's up?"

"--We want more medicine. Schlatt got poisoned yesterday by the cafeteria food--he had some antidote on him that he took right away, the underclassmen weren't even there for it, and he's been saying he's fine but he's also been coughing and breathing hard. Today when we exercised his feet swelled like a fucking-- look, it's fine, okay? Just, if you have medicine, that'd be great."

"...Alex. You're our supplier for medicine."

Damnit. He was really hoping Nick wouldn't say that. "Just--check if you have any from someone else and I'll give you a sweeter deal."

"...Sure."

Ugh. And now Nick's probably going to be weird about it. "You might have some left over from--I forget his name, the South African kid who made trades with Sam before they graduated?"

"Oh yeah! Yeah, I dunno that we have very much left, but I can check that."

"Great! That's great. What about you, do you need anything particular this time?"

"I don't think so? More stimulants, obviously. More--general purpose stuff, if you have any. Some fun ones if you have extras you're spelling. Nothing specific."

"I can do more stimulants. And the rest of it. --How much is Clay even on. I mean, not to speak ill of my business, but like, that can't be healthy."

"Hey, I've seen Schlatt's arms, don't go throwing stones in a glass house."

"Hey, man. Never said Schlatt was healthy. As long as he's not trying to get the kids into it, it's whatever, man."

"Anyway, Clay's got, like, super ADHD. He has, like, a tolerance, y'know? And he's good at stuff, just--not at math homework or whatever."

"Makes sense, makes sense."