"Oh, good. So, um. Maybe you could think about it and recommend me some good horror books in a few days? I mean, the Media Library's got all kinds of stuff."

"I think it's so she can keep us content and on her side. That way she can manipulate us through fear, with Punishment, or through trying to appeal to us nicely." And yes, Howard is incredibly cynical about this. He doesn't believe resources ever come free. The fact that Stacy feeds them means there's a catch, to him. "I'm always worried that Stacy's going to decide to stop giving us all this stuff and just let us kill each other off for the last tray of slop."

He says that lightly, but his forehead crinkles up in concern, communicating that he is, in fact, completely serious about worrying about that.