"So do you want to go check now orrrrrrr--"

"Hey, I mean, why not, right?"

"Sure." And they can go meet up with the rest of Tampa; Nick splits off to talk to Clay, and Alex splits off to talk to Karl.

"Hey Alex."

"Hey, man, what's up?" He leans his head against Karl's shoulder; it's kind of awkward positioning, because he's like three inches shorter than Karl, but it works well enough.

"Nothing much, nothing much. I, uh, wanted to talk to you actually?"

"Oh?"

"Well. You and Nick, actually, I--probably should wait until he's done talking to Clay?" Anxious glances over at them.

"--We're just finishing up a trade, don't worry about it."

"Oh." Impatient bouncing.

Karl is cute.

And Nick will come over! He's very very carefully holding a mostly-empty vial. "We'll trade this for a full one of yours."

"Half a one. Max. That's barely a few drops."

"You said you'd give us a better deal for it."

"A better deal, not highway robbery. Half a one, final offer."

Sigh. "I'll ask Clay."

Bounce bounce. He is being so patient.

And Nick returns. "--He said sure but only because Karl and I like you."

"Hey, I'll take it." Exchanging of vials! And of other things; along with the healing potion trade, he trades scrap metal and paper for stimulants, the second half of healing potion for a carefully measured amount of potassium iodide, and four vending machine tokens for a vial of gets-you-high.

“Babyyyyyy I want to talk to youuuuu.”

“What is it?”

“Well first of all, thank you Karl you’ve been very patient, you’re absolutely right you are so welcome.”

“Thank you Karl.”

“Do I have to say that too before you tell us.”

“No, because I’m also very modest. You’re all so welcome. Anyway. I was saying, and we’ve talked about this some, right— I like you? And Nick likes you? I think all three of us should date. I don’t understand why we’re not already.”