LADY KILLER

John Reese: "I'm rowing this boat."

He let Shaw have the car when they were going after Root and Finch, but he's not surrendering the boat.

Sameen Shaw: "Guy's a chameleon. Organized, efficient, sociopathic. Not that there's anything wrong with that."

That'd be slightly hypocritical. Both of Shaw and of John. Possibly of Finch, too, though he doesn't share the more problematic aspects of general sociopathy – but no one can deny that Harold is a chameleon too. He might not do it against anyone, but he still pretends he is a lot of people he isn't really. Shaw, as she honestly tells you when you ask, has a lot of trouble connecting to people, doesn't really know what remorse feels like, and her grasp on emotions is textbook-based at best – but she doesn't actively want to hurt others unless they start it, so that's always a plus. John, himself... Well. He connects with people, but he's also not sure of what fear feels like. When he's truly angry he falls into an almost obsessive pattern of destruction. And for all that he doesn't particularly enjoy killing people, he also doesn't mind it the way normal people do.

John Reese: "I wouldn't be so sure, Finch. He's got a missing-person flyer for a woman named Jenna Lakritz. And there is an article he printed out... About a woman who died last week."

It might be what got the Machine's attention. Murphy just changed – before that, before this particular woman, Ian Murphy might have been a manipulative chameleon, but he'd never killed anyone. Perhaps he just went next level.

John Reese: "Hold off on that. I may have another idea. We don't have enough proof to call the cops. That doesn't mean we can't set up a trap of our own."

With the women he has in mind, Murphy will be in more danger than his preys if he tries anything. No one will ever touch Shaw without her consent – and if they still try, they'll be in for a world of pain. Carter is former military too, and doesn't get out of cop-spirit even on a night out. Zoe... Well. Zoe is afraid of nothing because she can manipulate her way out of anything, and John might just gift her a defensive weapon for the physical side of things. Maybe a taser.

Joss Carter: "I've been dying for one of these."

John could smirk here. Generally, when he hears that kind of discussions between women, it involves other things than firearms, but apparently the women he's acquainted with are just as enthusiastic about firearms as they are about designer dresses. It probably means something about him, too, but honestly John isn't going to complain if it means he can understand the conversation.

Zoe Morgan: "Little gift from John."

Well. Apparently someone doesn't like being left out when Shaw and Carterstart talking about their guns. And no, why are they looking at him like that? John gives great gifts!

John Reese: "You look fine, Shaw. You just look... angry. All the time."

It's typical of people like them, on that point – being seemingly stuck on one facial expression no matter the situation. John is sure people have things to say about him, too – even if it's probably not quite the same, maybe not angry, but something. It's not necessarily noticeable when you just met John, but it gets more obvious as he spends more time with you, and you start noticing he hardly lets himself show deep emotions – then you start wondering if, perhaps, it's because there are no emotions to be shown. Because John – like Sameen Shaw, perhaps – does carefully decide what to let show on his face at times – mostly he doesn't bother, but sometimes...

Sameen Shaw: "You're joking. That woman's got a guard of steel. You two have a thing or something? 'Cause, I mean, I clocked you and Zoe right off the bat, but I never thought you and Carter..."

...They would never work. There's no point thinking about it, honestly, because Carter... because Joss will never yield as to what she considers right and wrong – and he doesn't want her to – and if they can both compromise on their ways as they work together, or even as friends... John doesn't believe they could make it work in a romantic relationship. Joss would never live in a constant lie, like she would need to if they got together – because John Sullivan doesn't exist anymore, because John Rykes disappeared into the CIA, because John Reese was killed in action two years and a half ago. Joss would never accept some of the choices John makes in his daily life, not to the point that she could truthfully fall in love with him. Because John believes in his principles too, and while they are a bit more flexible than Joss', they are also truly important for him. It doesn't mean they can't have feelings – maybe, in a way, John does at least – but feelings aren't practical, and some feelings don't work out in practice. Some feelings only end up with people being hurt for nothing. So no, there is no point. ...Which also means that, indeed, he might be acting a bit too protective for no reason. Still. John doesn't like men who prey on women like Murphy does.

Sameen Shaw: "Well, your 'just friend' is doing her job. She gets this guy to trust her, maybe he makes a move. And we can finally shoot him."

Okay, he might be exaggerating. Maybe. Won't stop him from taking out Murphy if he turns out to be exactly the kind of person they suspect.

Sameen Shaw: "Been too busy saving the world from bad guys. Besides, relationships are for amateurs. Guys these days have so many... emotions. They cry, they wanna be held. I just don't know what to do with them."

...That's the part where Shaw has a hard time really understanding others. He'll change the subject, then.

Ian Murphy: "It's not stalking. It's research. Women like that I can anticipate their needs. They're used to guys doing the bare minimum. I go above and beyond. Try it sometime."

Still too manipulative for John. There's a difference between learning to know someone and trying to decipher them entirely from the beginning. It's... superficial in its sincerity – coming from a man whose job has been to ingratiate himself into a lot of people's life for the supposed greater good, you'd better believe John knows what he's talking about. Murphy's actions... It might be done with good intent, maybe – maybe – but in the end, it's poor execution. Anyone who's been through the hands of manipulative exs would be more alarmed than anything else, should they cross paths with Murphy's brand of dating.

Zoe Morgan: "Thank you for meeting with us, Mr Wellington."

...She's helping, again. Even if it might damage her reputation – kind of – even if it might lose her a client, in the end. Because there's a very real risk that Wellington will understand what happened, later, even if they don't end up showing their cards to him during the op.

Bruce Wellington: "My grandson will never know that piece of white trash is his father. Alex is an heir, not the help."

John still doesn't see where's the problem, then. A child's future isn't the medium between their parents. Just because Ian Murphy is Alexander Wyatt's true father, it doesn't change the fact that the boy is an heir. Oh, and he doesn't appreciate the mindset that allows this privileged rich white man to call less fortunate people "white trash". It might just get Mr Wellington a punch in the face.