From what Nooj had told her, Leblanc thought she knew enough of what to expect from the girl. With that and her own experience facing off with the Gullwings, she was certain. She was surprised, however, when Paine showed up at her door, especially seeing as the little... seeing as she was supposed to be retired, or somesuch.

It was quite obvious to Leblanc that she had the upper hand. That she was hospitable alone seemed to surprise her one-time adversary; with Nooj’s confidence, she even noticed the predatory edge hidden beneath what she took for genuine gratitude. Paine refused her invitations politely enough, but stood, arms-crossed, defensive and dishonest to herself. She kept her eyes down, in an effort to admit nothing. In short, she was sulking, and to Leblanc, it was utterly delicious.

"I just need to know he’s... okay." She was already slipping up. If it were one of hers, Leblanc would have been worried.

"Speak up darling," Leblanc insisted, doing what she did best. That Paine didn’t seem to notice, or care, meant she got a little fun in on the side. "Who is it that we’re talking about?"

"You know who." The girl gritted her teeth, and her patience dwindled; all Leblanc had to do was wait. Three, two, one… "Nooj."

Damn. That was almost too easy. Paine was so far out of it, to be openly honest at a time like this. She really thought they had something going, didn’t she? Oh, not that I don’t wish.

"... ‘okay’?"

"Happy, alright?"

"Oh, that. Why don’t you ask him?" Leblanc wondered aloud, piling on the innocence. "Or could it be, that there’s something you don’t want to talk to him about?"

"No."

"No?"

"Alright, yes."

"What might that be?"

Silence. The girl really knew how to shut herself down. But if she was going for broke, she might as well dig. Gasping in mock-surprise, Leblanc acted as if she’d merely figured it out, "Could it be that you... oh, no, what am I thinking. That would be too silly, especially seeing as you’re such a strong, capable young wo-"

"What?" That got her attention, and Leblanc silently cheered.

"Oh, nothing, just that you’re acting like a lovesick teenager."

Oops. Maybe that one was too close; Paine reeled back, falling on her rump and taking a good bit of the gauze down off the ceiling with her. She stared, blushing furiously – although Leblanc guessed that a lot of that was rage – gaping like a fish.

It was enough; the whole thing was the stupidest display she’d ever seen, but it was perfectly logical for Paine. She knew this, because Nooj knew this. She felt a twinge of pity – and this was what she was competing against. Compelled, she wondered if it would make a difference at all to tell the honest truth.

"My dear, you really ought to know better." Offering her hand, she wasn’t surprised to be rebuked. The only thing that would top this was a full-on temper-tantrum.

"What do you mean?" And yet, she still held on long enough to play stupid. But hey, to Leblanc, that made the most sense. Stupid kids...

"I mean, that the only woman," she was using the term broadly, but for Nooj’s sake, she felt it applied, "he’s ever talked about – you know, when he actually means it – is you."