He's fuming. It's not something he does as often as he used to, loss and maturity have cut down on the things that set him off these days but - he's certainly fuming now. Mako is his Drift partner. She belongs with him and Gipsy. He doesn't really care if she went rabbit chasing her first time in. He understands how dangerous it was, how bad things could have gone and he knows neither him nor Gipsy would have ever forgiven themselves if there had been damaged but - dammit! No one got hurt and he feels as if Staker was just looking for the excuse to pull Mako from the program. He knows why too - and he understands. He does.

It doesn't mean he doesn't consider Mako his partner and that he's not going to fight for her spot there whether she will or not.

He knows Gipsy though and so he does his best to push that anger (and frustration) to the side as he steps into her pod. His hand lifts to brush along the structure as he walks over to Yancy's side... his side. They didn't have time to talk after Mako and - he's worried. Gipsy had promised to take care of them and he doesn't want her feeling guilty for something neither of them could stop. Sometimes things just happened and you had to accept that. He's learned.

"Hey, Gipsy," his voice is soft and gentle and he strokes one of the control pads as he shifts over to take his spot to hook them in together. It's much faster these days. This Shatterdome doesn't have the manpower or money for all the extras of five years ago. He doesn't give the signal he's ready to plug in just yet though. Sometimes - it seems best to talk first. Reaching up he touches the back brace that links them.

"How're you doing?"