"Oh, I'm sure you do. I bet the paper work's just stacking up without you there to shuffle it around repetitively between popping in on us, speak of the devil like."

Old times, indeed. None of this is like old time--or rather, it is exactly like old times in that Tim feels the overwhelming urge to run away and be lost in the woods and never return to the stifling, overbearing walls of the Institute ever again, and he's not entirely sure that he can, if Elias is here.

He has so many questions, burning inside of him. Elias told him not to go to The Unknowing, and the thought of it clings inside his ribs, a tarry knowledge that demands an answer. Did Elias know he wouldn't make it out? Does it matter? Did he care that he was going to lose an employee?

Probably not.

"If we can find a way to work with my boot up your ass, I'm sure we will." The faux-chipper tone is punctuated with an utterly pleased smile. Tim was already at the end of his rope by the end of it, but he has no contract here.

He has no safety net, keeping Elias from killing him. But whatever.