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"Well," Daryl says, "but, Wayne, do you really want a degen rink rat hanging 'round the farm?"
"Well.... I think he can be improved."
"He doesn't seem full degens," Dan concurs. "Maybe it's the hockey."
"Still," Daryl says. "Still, he ain't got no sense of code. You told me he was hitting that guy with a stick."
"I've seen yous use beer bottles in brawls, Dary."
Daryl shifts. "Well sure, fine, but I don't plan on it."
"He's got you theres, Wayne." Dan grimaces. "He definitely plans on it. That move at the 'ship was awfully nasties."
Wayne turns.
"Okay Dan, Dan okay. Let's consider this now. Let's say you and your team're losing the most important game of your irrelevant life. You already have a reputation for being a snake. You can let your team lose, or you can do what everyone expects of you and find a way to contribute. Even if it sinks your reputation worse and gets a quebecker chasing after you next season."
"W, w, well now are you saying you'd do the same thing?" Daryl asks, agitated.
"Hard no." Wayne frowns. Huffs. "But I like his work ethic. Bit rough 'round the edges and he's a certified piece of shit, but that doesn't make someone a total degen."
Dan nods. "I don't sees him hangin'around with thems. Don't see him do much else than hockey."
"He took the fall so his team could win," Wayne says. "I admire that."
"Is that what he tells you?"
"No. Th'opposite." Wayne squints, and continues, pained. "He's allergic to acknowledging when there's an ounce of something respectable to him. I told'm I admired his work ethic few nights after the scrap and he said that's a sign he should take a break so's he doesn't fall for my seductive wiles."
Dan and Daryl shoot up. "Seductive wiles?"
"'S'how he refers to my offer of living somewhere that isn't a car for the winter."
They take that in.
"Well I thoughts you were invitings him out for extra hands at winterizing."
"A full winter?"
"He lives in his car?"
"When a man needs help, you help him."
"Sounds like he don't want to be helped, Wayne."
"When a man needs help, you help him."
"Look at yous, Wayne, always adopting the strays."
They drink.
"It was a dirty play, Wayne," Daryl grumbles.
"He's a bit of a snake," Wayne agrees.
Daryl sighs. "Well. Well, d'y'have a plan at least or something? I don't want to deal with degen creep if he's gonna be around all winter. He's got to at least be a bit hick trained."
Wayne pauses.
"Exercise, discipline, and affection, in that order," he says, finally.
Dan nods. "Wells what works for dogs may might work for degens."