I Don't Know: Rewrite

by Anna W

"All you have is your fire, and the place you need to reach. Don't you ever tame your demons, but always keep them on a leash." Same characters, slightly different plot, and hopefully better writing. A lot more historically based and more concise. Read and review to let me know what you think! :-) Also posted on ao3 under Anna W

15. Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Brooklyn 1902

The air in Sonny's was thick with smoke, the lights dim as Spot slowly meandered into the large, crowded bar. It was half past ten and everyone around him looked pleasantly drunk and engaged, the clash of the patron's loud voices with the lively music making the noise level almost deafening.

He had gone back and forth for quite some time on whether he should attend this supposed holiday celebration. On the one hand, his curiosity was genuinely piqued. Lost causes day? It certainly sounded like something Katherine Moore would come up with. Maybe a joke of sorts to poke fun at a societal norm she found absurd. Or a silly play on words referencing some obscure book or social movement she had read about. And no doubt Julia had indulged her friend's call for celebration by demanding alcohol be involved.

However, he hadn't been able to ignore the small tug of hesitation in his gut either. One, because even though he and Julia were on much better terms now, for some reason, every time they were together for even a moment at an outing like this, she never hesitated to threaten some sort of painful mutilation if his public behavior with Kate was not above reproach.

To which Kate would often growl, "We're not in a fucking church, Mother Superior."

But that brought him to the second thing that had caused him pause about coming to Sonny's tonight. Was attending an outing that was usually a celebration between Kate and Julia really the place for him, even though he had been invited? It seemed to exude a certain type of personal intimacy that made him immediately wary of the whole thing. After all, he and Kate were not really together in that way.

Though neither of them was with anyone else and she spent almost every night in his bed, they both had been hesitant to call it something more official than "seeing how things went". As far as Spot was concerned, it had been a rather fulfilling nine months of eye-opening "goings on". But Kate detested labels nearly as much as he did, so he had been reticent to, in any way, shift the pleasant dynamic they had maintained thus far.

So, he guessed his curiosity won out in the end because here he was now, squinting around in search of the pretty dark-haired girl and her somewhat hostile blonde guardian.

What he was not expecting, however, was to catch the eye of his tall, bulky friend Rummy standing a few yards ahead of him.

"Conlon!" Rummy roared boisterously when he met Spot's gaze, his cheeks red from what Spot assumed to be a hefty consumption of ale. "What the hell are you doin' here?"

Spot took a couple of steps forward as he smirked in amusement, noting the boorish way Rummy rushed through a group of dockworkers and seamstresses to come toward him.

"I could ask you the same question," Spot said, motioning a hand around. "Red Hook's a little outa your area, ain't it?"

Rummy shrugged, a mischievous smile on his face. "Well, if ya must know, I was invited."

Spot quirked his head in surprise, opening his mouth to ask if Kate had run into him today and told him about the event as well. But before he could get his question out, a familiar, smug voice sounded from behind him.

"And here is our fearless King, coming to join the celebration at long last. Late as usual."

Spot rolled his eyes, turning to offer Julia a tempered smile in greeting. "If I had been on time, then I'd have taken away this golden opportunity for you to chastise me, Julia."

Julia's smirk grew. "Oh, you underestimate my ability to easily find fault with whatever you do, Conlon."

"Oh, but I don't," Spot said shaking his head derisively, "I think you've made it pretty clear how you feel about me. If we could skip the castration speech for tonight though, I'd appreciate it."

At that, Rummy snorted loudly, and Spot was shocked to see that his reaction secured a genuine laugh from Julia.

"Am I being too hard on him, William?" she said as she winked toward Rummy.

But Rummy shook his head, shooting Spot a look. "Nah. He deserves it. It's lost causes day after all, ain't it?"

"True enough," Julia quickly replied, walking past the two men. "We should head back to the others at the table, though. Hopefully, Katherine's finally ready to get this thing started."

Spot felt like his head was spinning as he saw Julia disappear back into the crowd. And before Rummy could take his first step to follow her, Spot caught his friend's arm.

Rummy's dark eyes surveyed Spot humorously as Spot raised his hands in confused exasperation.

"Kate didn't tell ya anything did she?" Rummy asked, chuckling to himself.

"But she had time to tell you?" Spot accused, not even trying to hide the irritation and slight jealousy in his voice.

Rummy shook his head with a short laugh. "Calm down, Romeo. It weren't your girl who invited me." He paused, puffing up his chest in exaggerated importance. "I'll have ya know, this is my second lost causes day. Julia invited me last year for the first time."

Spot's eyes widened in further bewilderment. "How the hell do you know Julia?"

Rummy smirked. "'Cause I'm a nice guy that attracts beautiful women, what can I say?" Spot's eyeroll only made him laugh harder. "C'mon, lighten up, Conlon. I've known Julia for four or five years at least. She used to work with my older sister at the bakery near where I grew up."

Spot nodded slowly as some of the pieces slowly started to come together for him—at least explaining Rummy's presence at Sonny's currently. But there was still the unanswered question of what the hell lost causes day actually was.

Rummy seemed to read his thoughts as he smiled and said, "Don't worry. Kate apparently always gives some big, long speech about the meanin' and history of lost causes day after she's tossed back a few. Lemme go get us some drinks. Everybody's at the big table in the back—you can't miss 'em. I'll meet ya there in a minute."

And with that Rummy ambled to the bar, leaving Spot with nothing else to do but push through the crowd toward the back of the establishment.

He meandered back slowly, even further unnerved by Rummy's mention of "everybody". What the hell kind of thing was this? Clearly not the intimate celebration he had initially envisioned. And, strangely, he now felt somewhat disappointed that this wasn't such an exclusive affair, even though an hour before he had almost not shown up for that very same reason.

But he found his thoughts quieting as, sure enough, at the very back wall of the space was a mid-sized table surrounded by a motley mixing of six people with Julia at the helm. And still no Kate.

Spot sighed and shook his head, suddenly feeling as if he were part of some weird joke. He looked to the man who was probably in his early seventies sitting to Julia's left, smoking a cigar, and twisting his scraggly white mustache betwixt his fingers nervously. Then to her right, a much younger boy of about sixteen with dark hair, dark eyes, and dark skin who seemed to be unable to conceal his excitement every time Julia turned to speak to him. The others consisted of a middle-aged lady whose head was covered in a colorful green, blue, and gold scarf, a pretty woman with dark skin that looked a little older than Julia, and another man with wire-rimmed glasses who appeared a few years Spot's senior.

"I promise none of them will bite. Except Riggs—the one with the white mustache. But that's just how he says he likes you, so I wouldn't take offense."

Spot jolted a bit as the familiar voice sounded quietly in his ear, turning around to come face to face with a pretty smile and shining green, though slightly intoxicated eyes.

"Is that why Julia's sittin' next to him?" he countered, recovering with a smirk of his own.

Kate laughed as she shook her head, several tendrils of dark hair falling out of her updo to frame her face. "I guess if there was someone who could tame a beast, it'd be her."

He looked her over momentarily, an automatic pulse of want clenching in his stomach. She was clothed differently from earlier, a simple red dress fitted to her small frame, her hair pulled to the top of her head, though a multitude of wild, dark curls had already managed to fall out around her neck and face. Her cheeks were flushed, most likely from alcohol, her eyes bright and open. And he was somewhat taken aback by just how much effort he had to put into stopping himself from kissing her right then and there.

But all he could offer verbally was, "You clean up nice, Kate."

She smiled. "Julia said I needed to look more presentable, so…here it is." She twirled somewhat clumsily in front of him, laughing as she steadied herself once more. "You don't look so bad yourself."

She gave him an exaggerated once over before winking, easily securing a chuckle and an eyeroll in response. "You're ridiculous," he muttered, unable to hide his own smile.

She cocked her head toward the table, grabbing his hand solidly in her smaller, warmer one, her grin widening. "C'mon. I'll introduce you to everyone."

And before he could say anything else, she was pulling him toward the group of strangers a few feet beyond. "Everyone. Say hello to Thomas here!"

"To Thomas!" the old mustached man gruffly stated, raising his mug, and then drinking several heaving gulps, while Julia shook her head exasperatedly and the rest of the table looked either confusedly toward him or asserted some sort of greeting to Spot.

"To Thomas!"

Kate and Spot turned to see Rummy raising two full glasses of whiskey jovially in turn, leaving Spot unsure of how to react to the strange scene while Kate just covered her mouth as she began to laugh even harder. Rummy quickly handed Spot a drink, and he lifted it immediately to his lips, taking several swallows in an effort to keep up.

"Stop encouraging him, William," Julia chastised irritably, sending a disapproving look toward Riggs. "And her."

Julia's eyes accusingly directed themselves to Kate next, who put a hand to her chest in mock offense. But Spot could see the smile peaking through Julia's stern stare, and the mischievous glint in Kate's corresponding look.

"Anyway," Kate continued. "That's Riggs who's just toasted you for some reason beyond any of our understanding. Julia you of course know quite well. Then there's James, our good friend from down the hall," the bespeckled man nodded in greeting toward Spot. "And Rosa, who works with Julia at the dress shop," the pretty honey-skinned girl smiled at him. "Leonora, my friend who graciously keeps getting me odd jobs by the river," the woman with the colorful head scarf gave Kate a loving look before nodding at Spot. "And then finally, Oliver, musician extraordinaire by night and bakery assistant by day."

The sixteen-year-old shot him a smirk, and Spot sighed, offering a brief smile to the group in response to the introductions. But just as he took another healthy swig from his drink, Kate pulled him to a set of empty chairs in between Oliver and Leonora, sitting beside him and squeezing his hand before reaching for the glass that Julia quickly passed her from across the table.

"Julia!" Riggs loudly called out into Julia's ear, as the blonde girl closed her eyes to momentarily collect herself. "Your friend, Katherine—do you know who she reminds me of?"

The whole table turned toward the two, Oliver murmuring to Spot, "Guaranteed he's gonna tell us a story about some whorehouse he visited in Europe."

Spot stared at the younger boy incredulously as Kate met Oliver's eye and shrugged. But Julia looked less amused, telling Riggs just as loudly, "I'd like to remind you, that you already have one strike against you concerning your inappropriate commentary on Katherine so far this evening. So perhaps consider your words before telling—"

"The brothels in Italy have the most enchanting women!" he roared heedlessly, Julia rolling her eyes, James, Leonora, and Rosa looking aghast, and Oliver, Rummy, and Kate barely containing their laughter. "And this dark-haired beauty here is nothing short of courtesan level sophistication, I assure you!"

"Strike two, I'm afraid, Riggs," Kate said with a smirk. "Though I do appreciate the fact that you've now allowed me into the top tier of the world's oldest profession. Much more thoughtful than your last assessment."

"Of course, my dear!" he replied jovially, raising his glass to her, and then pouring a large quantity of the remaining liquid down his throat.

Spot's eyes concernedly caught Rummy's humor filled ones, watching as Rummy mouthed, "He's harmless."

So, Spot shrugged, taking another sip from his drink as he posed, "What happens when he gets to strike three?"

"Now there's an idea!" Riggs shouted, pointing at Spot before anyone could answer his question. "A third round of drinks—on me!" And with that he rose, cigar in mouth, making his way toward the bar as the entirety of the table watched in interest.

"I'm almost certain he only hears every few words," James mentioned, shaking his head in confoundment while several of the others smiled congenially back at him.

"I guess that's what happens when you spend your life as a riverboat captain smuggling contraband," Kate added, a grin growing pleasantly on her face before she turned to Spot. "But to answer your question, once he reaches strike three, he's cut off from any further drinking and has to buy the rest of our drinks for the remainder of the night. Though it looks like he'll start doing it now anyway."

"He actually sticks with that deal?" Spot asked, honestly surprised.

"Oh yes," Leonora replied, her voice heavy in a distinct European accent that Spot could not quite place. "His word is his bond."

Kate nodded in assent. "He has a code."

"One of Julia's acquaintances then?" Spot questioned, shooting Julia a wry smile.

"Oh please," Julia almost spat, rolling her eyes and glancing toward Kate. "This one has Katherine's name written all over it. I wanted to ban him last year, but she wouldn't let me. She insists he's a diamond in the rough."

"You can't ban people from lost causes day, Julia," Kate asserted somewhat vigorously, shaking her head. "That doesn't make any goddamn sense."

"Here we go. She's warmin' Katherine up now," Oliver muttered, elbowing Spot as his dark eyes exaggeratedly traveled between Kate and Julia several times. But Spot only raised his eyebrows, both in confusion and amusement, taking another swig of his drink.

"Neither does connecting lost causes day to Karl Marx, yet somehow you manage," Julia shot back, a smirk appearing on her face.

"Karl Marx?" Rosa asked, turning to James quizzically who just nodded toward Kate.

But Kate only shook her head at Julia, downing her drink in one swift gulp, several more curls falling around her face from the movement. However, as Spot looked around the table once more and then back at Kate's somewhat more determined stare, he slowly started to realize what Oliver meant.

"Or fate," Julia added firmly, Kate reaching for Oliver's drink, ignoring the boy's shout of "hey!", and downing it before falling back in her chair, arms crossing upon her chest, eyebrows raised.

"Or women's rights, or child labor," Julia finished.

"Racial equality!" Oliver added, yanking his now empty cup from Kate's hand.

"Religious freedom," James murmured, smiling at Kate.

"Politicians," Leonora groaned, rolling her eyes.

"And the bloody copper violence!"

Riggs shout came from behind as he returned to the table, a barmaid—looking wholly overdone—following close behind with a tray full of drinks. And once the pints had been dispersed and the barmaid had walked off, Rosa looked to Julia and asked, "Well, is Katherine gonna tell us now? About lost causes day?"

And everyone seemed to chuckle, all at once turning toward Kate, who rolled her eyes, muttering, "Fine, laugh all you like, but it means something to me."

"Oh, go on, sunshine," Julia said, genuinely smiling. "We were just teasing you. Everyone at this table should already know what a precious gem you are. Just tell your story already."

Spot found himself sitting up straighter as the purpose of the evening was finally at hand, his attention fully focused on Kate whose cheeks had grown somewhat redder with all eyes suddenly upon her, waiting. But she took merely a big drink from the pint Riggs had provided, then a deep breath, her features calming into steady focus.

"I suppose this started as all serious things do—in a moment of desperation," she started, quirking her head in thought. "And, unfortunately, those are moments that we've all had at least one of. But some of us know these moments all too well." She paused, and Spot noted her shared glance with Julia as several of the others around them murmured in affirmation.

Kate's gaze looked distant as she continued, "Four years ago, in August, that specific moment of desperation in my life took me to a place I had never been before—as far down the East River toward Queens as I'd ever run. It was a very hot day—the sun was setting, and I happened upon a gypsy encampment that had randomly set up for the week because of some damage one of their boats had sustained."

She stopped momentarily, her faraway eyes traveling toward Leonora, who softly smiled in response, stating, "The sweetest, prettiest, saddest girl we'd ever seen."

Kate huffed out a gentle laugh. "That's probably too kind a description for the actual mess I was at the time." Leonora tutted in response, but Kate only waved her off, continuing, "But nonetheless, Leonora, her husband, and a few others noticed the state I was in and came to my aid—gave me water, fed me, and offered me shelter. All without knowing my name at first. They asked what I was doing way out in the middle of nowhere, amongst the abandoned broken crates of that deserted inlet. And because they had been so open with me, I told them." She took a deep breath, her eyebrows knitting together as her voice quieted. "I said that I was lost. That I was hopeless."

Leonora's smile widened as she added in her melodic voice, "But we told her to offer up her lost causes. Because…" she trailed off, signaling with her hand for Kate to finish.

"Because people aren't hopeless—people are made to withstand and do extraordinary things," Kate answered purposefully, shooting Leonora a small grin.

Everyone at the table seemed to nod together at the sentiment, Julia clearly beaming at Kate from her seat. But Spot remained still, unable to take his eyes off the girl sitting next to him. He squinted at her for several moments, almost in awe, as her smile turned sad. "But sometimes people also get lost along the way and need guidance and rest. So that's when you lift up that hopelessness instead of falling into it. Then you wait for an answer to come to you."

"You must separate yourself from the desperation and release it to the above. Let the patron of lost causes sort through it for you. You give it to the forgotten disciple. To Saint Jude—through the water," Leonora further explained, nodding encouragingly to Kate.

"And since the feast day of St. Jude—patron saint of lost causes—is celebrated on October twenty-eighth every year," Kate said a little more markedly, eyes shining, "I feel like it's the perfect day to make mention of those causes that so often fall on deaf ears before we lift them up. So, yes to Karl Marx's social commentary, to racial equality, women's rights, an end to child labor, to religious freedom, and to no more police brutality." Riggs clapped his hands together as he shouted something indistinct, the others at the table chuckling softly, but no less moved by her words.

However, Spot felt as if someone had knocked the wind out of him as he sat there in utter shock, attempting to process the story he had just heard. Not to mention the fact that lost causes day was, in actuality, the feast of St. Jude, patron saint and intercessor of hopelessness and desperation.

The same saint imprinted upon the pendant chain he had worn around his neck since he was six years old.

The saint Mary claimed to have prayed to on his behalf so many times over the years, that she was now convinced he would forever service Spot as some kind of guardian, pending the necklace remained with him at all times.

But Spot shook himself from his stupor as Kate held her hand up to quiet the others, before continuing. "But today isn't just about the beliefs we hold so near and dear to our hearts. It's also a day to celebrate those people that are causes in and of themselves."

She paused, looking around the table purposefully. "The people that are always thinking ahead and leading the charge. Making the unseen visible again, the unheard louder than ever before, and the forgotten forever present. People like you beautiful men and women."

"Here, here!" Julia called out, smiling brightly.

"I am not a big believer in mysticism or fate," Kate continued. "But I do think something bigger than random happenstance brought me to that caravan that day and pushed me to share the experience with all of you. So," Kate said, raising her glass. "A toast to all of us that have ever been lost. That have ever thrown ourselves into what seem like hopeless causes. That have ever fallen out of the light. May we always find the path once more, always relight the fire, and always, always keep pushing forward."

A raucous cheer rose up from the table as everyone around Spot stood up to clink glasses, all of them seeming to talk at once in excitement. But, for some reason, he felt detached from all of it. Even as Oliver clapped him on the back, touching his glass to Spot's, and Leonora told him "Cheers to you," in her kind, deep voice.

He found himself standing up amidst the din of excited tinkling and chattering, hearing Kate say, "Remember to write down this years causes on the paper that Julia has. Then we'll head out to that spot by the river in a few hours."

But he didn't turn around to listen to the rest of what Kate had to say, or any responses that had followed afterward. Instead, he downed the pint Riggs had provided, moving quickly toward the bar to secure some much-needed space to think, and a lot more alcohol.

And surprisingly, quite a bit of time passed before anyone came looking for him. He was on his fourth glass of whiskey when he felt a tap on his shoulder and unsteadily turned to see Rummy looking confusedly back at him.

"Where ya been, Conlon?" the tall boy asked.

But the only words that flowed from Spot's drunken lips in response were, "How the fuck does Kate know about St. Jude? You told Julia, an' then you all got together and pulled this shit off? To fuck with me?"

Spot aggressively pulled the metal chain out of his shirt, the small pendant swinging near his fist as Rummy raised his eyebrows in question. "Did I tell Julia about your necklace?" Rummy asked, clearly drunk himself, and thus further unsure of what the hell Spot was talking about. "Shit, Conlon. I forgot you even wore that thing. I dunno….maybe you mentioned it to Kate before or somethin'?"

"No," Spot shook his head, trying to clear his muddled thoughts. "I don't tell nobody nothin' havin' to do with me."

"Well, there's your answer then," Rummy drawled, rolling his eyes. "'Sides. Kate's been doin' this longer than she's known you. C'mon. You heard 'er story—she's even got witnesses to back 'er up." Rummy sighed as Spot stared incredulously at him. But the larger boy finally ran a hand through his dark hair and added, "Just…quit tryin' ta ruin a good thing. Get outa your head, an' just be here. Alright?"

Spot stared at Rummy speechlessly for several moments as his friend's words began to seep past some of his hardened indignance. And shockingly, that final poignant plea resonating within his head seemed to be just the thing Spot needed to jerk himself back into reality again-albeit a much more drunken one than he would have liked. How would Kate have any idea that his mother had given him a St. Jude pendant? Of the history of all that had followed? Of course, she had no inkling of the meaning behind it. Shit, she probably didn't know he was even wearing it.

"Dammit," he muttered, more at himself than anyone or anything else.

How quickly he had allowed his thoughts to spiral to a worst case scenario where Kate ended up being some sort of villain to him. How quickly he had been ready to instigate unnecessary division between he and Kate when her whole message of the night had been unity.

So, he took a deep breath, meeting Rummy's even gaze and sorted his thoughts into a much more agreeable headspace. Then he nodded and followed Rummy back to the table where he was present for the rest of the evening. He enjoyed more drinks, conversation, and laughter with the others—even Riggs, who continued to buy libations for everyone, surprisingly without reaching his third strike. He became impressed by Oliver's incisive oratory, endeared to Rosa's inherent need to see good. He enjoyed James' summation of the classics, and Riggs' tales of lawless honor. Julia even managed to relay several kind sentiments regarding him.

"No more nightmares as of late. For several months, in fact," Julia had murmured when she had plopped down in the empty chair next to Spot.

Riggs, Leonora, and Oliver were at the bar chatting calmly while Rummy and Kate were raucously prancing about the dancefloor and James and Rosa slowly attempted some steps together in time.

Spot looked toward Julia in question, the blonde girl meeting his gaze, adding, "Katherine. She seems to be sleeping better at night. When she's with me at least, which isn't very often, lately."

"I'm assuming you disapprove? Of her stayin' with me?" Spot quickly asked, a frown settling on his lips. "Just so you know, I ain't been with anyone else since she and I talked about it six months ago. An' we ain't lily white or anything, but we haven't actually…gone through with anything yet."

Julia's eyebrows raised in honest surprise. "It's funny," she said after a moment, her eyes traveling to Kate and Rummy twirling on the dancefloor. "When I ask her, all she'll tell me is that it's between the two of you. Which is fair. But I figured she was protecting you—hiding something that you were doing that I'd be upset with. Not….this."

Spot smirked. "Well, maybe I ain't such a bad guy after all, huh?"

Julia looked him in the eye as she stated, "Spot, you aren't a bad guy. You never have been."

Spot thought his eyes might pop out of his head, his voice sounding strange as he couldn't help but curtly say, "What?"

Julia shook her head, smiling. "You aren't a bad person. That's the God's honest truth. You just believe you are. That's where all the trouble starts."

He remained speechless as she continued, "That's where Katherine's trouble starts too. You see, all these people here—really most people that meet her—they're entranced by her. By her energy and ideas—all the plans she has. But what they don't see is the horrible storm raging just beneath the surface, fueling all that energy. Threatening to pull her under. But you and I know differently."

Spot nodded slowly in agreement, a tinge of sadness filling his chest at the undeniable truth in her words. As confident and driven as Kate could be on the surface, the true depths of her insecurity and pain were never too far behind. And sleeping under the same roof as the dark-haired girl had alerted him to the plethora of unhealthy ways Kate had learned to avoid, or numb, her grief.

Throughout their months together, Spot had been privy to quite a few cycles of Kate's sudden disappearances. Luckily, Julia had a fairly reliable list of seedy places Kate so often sought out in these states of despair. Thus, both he and Rummy had become quite skilled in not only retrieving Kate from these settings, but also helping her to avoid them to begin with.

Julia sighed before adding, "And she thinks she's escaping the storm by pushing harder, going farther. But she's only making it worse—delaying the inevitable." She paused, a sad smile on her face. "I mean, the story she tells every lost causes day is so powerful, so poignant. But she always skips over that beginning part. And in some ways that's the most important piece of the story. Of what this all really means to her."

"What happened in the part she skipped over?" Spot asked automatically, staring intently at Julia's worried face.

Her blue eyes were troubled when they met his. "This is right after the story she told you. The first time someone…collected a debt from her. Her mother kicked her out the house when she found out and she had nowhere to go." Julia paused, her gaze again flashing to the dance floor to look upon Kate's form. "She was going to that inlet to drown herself that day at high tide."

Spot's mouth went dry, his eyes also snapping to Kate who stood laughing with James and Rosa in the distance. But before he could fully let the meaning of what Kate had been through sink in, Julia began talking again.

"For some reason, when she's with you, she can rest easier. The storm lessens. And you look better off for being with her too. So, here's hoping you both can keep those self-destructive streaks under control for a little while longer. Then maybe, just maybe, both of you might end up on the path you're supposed to be on. On the path to something great."

She paused, her gaze distant as a soft smile grew on her lips. "You know, I've always had this inkling that it's the people who have been through it all, and are so hellbent on seeing the worst in themselves-that they are the same ones who probably have the most potential for greatness. If they'd only get out of their own way." Her eyes traveled back to meet his widening gaze. "It's a shame, really. I bet the two of you, together, would be an unstoppable force-you'd turn the fucking world on its head. Change the game entirely."