"You're not the only one I've learned from, Howard," She said, a slow smile crossing her mouth, or half of it, the other half was having quite a lot of trouble moving with all the swelling. It would recede quickly, as soon as she forgot that it should be swelling really, bruises would come and go in various stages throughout the weeks. Like healing but not on any timeline that could be pinned down.
"If it makes you feel better, I only use the bits you to taught me to survive. And I use the stuff from other people to be reckless. You can rest assured." It was a joke, maybe a poor one from the way he still didn't look all that happy with her. But, hey! She couldn't make everyone happy all the time, right? Right?
Lucy leaned back and crossed her arms. Time for a new tactic.
"I'm dead as is. It won't make it any worse."