"That's a great idea." Dan follows what Elle's putting down, and he agrees. He thinks it'd be good for Price generally to focus less on individuals and feeling possessive of them and existing more within a community. Then again, when Price had agents, he had at least a handful and his sense of entitlement to them was catastrophic.

He pops some leftover candy into the drawer and pulls out the vape for a celebratory debut indoor puff. He still opens the window so he can exhale out of it, and a cold breeze gets in, but it's absolutely preferable to going out in the snow. The first hit of mint and nicotine feels like a drink of cool water in the desert, a warm hug in the cold, a break to stop and breathe in the middle of a marathon.

"I was right. You were right. This is perfect," he says after exhaling out the window, eyes lidded with relaxation.