"Yes, the baby's fine."

He takes half his money back. He scowls. They leave.

"Sorry."

"Wow, vindictive much," mutters Rabka. "- I didn't think you'd actually do it. Thank you."

"...I didn't actually do it. I mean, I tried, but. ...also why didn't you think I'd do it?"

"It's the kind of thing people - say and like to kind of fantasize about?"

"Amait used to act like she'd free them all and then she actually got them and -"

"Yeah, like that, kinda." She smooches Cathei's head. "But you! You are now a free baby!"

"We will save up and send you to school! You'll be able to do so many things!"

Rabka kisses him.

Kiss. "Five years isn't so long."

"If you win the appeal."

"Right. I guess it was technically rebellious behavior but you'd think that, uh, being bad at being a slave would be more reason to have you not be a slave."

"Then everybody would do it."

"Well. If you have a kid I'll buy them out, no need for shenanigans, and in five years we'll say that you were very young and had childbirth sickness and regret your rebellious behavior tremendously."

"Ah yes. Childbirth sickness. That must have been it."

"It won't help to say 'she was right and you know it' -"

"Yeah, I know."

"I, uh, didn't realize that you thought I was just saying it. About freeing you."

"...okay. Is that... a problem...?"

"Not exactly? But, like, when I said 'can I hold the baby, you can say no', did you also think I was just saying that."

"If I want to hold my baby I can just do that. Magic."

"But I could get mad at you for it."

"...yes? You said 'you could say no' not 'I can magically not have feelings about that' -"

"Uh, to clarify, when I say 'you can say no' I mean 'and that will not go horribly for you'."

"I don't want to make you mad, I like you."