[ It's not that Hickey is ashamed, or that he's still nursing some sort of emotional wound over it; it's certainly far from the worst thing he's done to make some money. It does, though, give him a strange feeling to pull the curtain back from Cornelius Hickey, just for a moment, and give Irving some insight into the man that he'd been before.

But Irving's transparent horror is enough of a balm that that strange feeling fades fast. Amused, Hickey studies him. ]

You did inquire. Twice, if you count that first time.

[ Relaxed again, he laces his fingers together, leaning forward a bit, trying to catch Irving's eye. ]

But fear not, Lieutenant Irving. I'm quite sure that with your help, I'll be able to change my ways here, although...there is the matter of the quota. But I'm sure your God will steer you to some way of managing that. You'll have to enlighten me.

[ He smiles, and then his eyes drop to the scrap of paper in front of Irving. ]

What else does that say about me?