"Looks like it, yeah." One chance to bail and he didn't take it. Perhaps one day he won't need a beating to accept the decisions he makes without his mind going off-kilter. Jade may just be able to teach him how. "Yes, I will."

Snuggling up hurts; he does it anyway, toying with a strand of silky-smooth hair. It's pretty, unlike his messy mop. "Tomorrow, I'll make up for today." He's not sure how, but drinking lots of tea with honey seems like a good place to start -- preparing himself for whatever Jade might require him to do. And if it ends up cleaning the entire house twice, he'll do it.