I don't have much intelligent to add, but you've definitely thrown some points into sharper clarity for me, especially Annieeeeee, who I didn't think I could love more but ohmygosh she just took it all in her stride and whipped him having lured him in with promises of only doing what she's told. And she has mates! Outside of the department!

Also it will never not be hilarious trying to figure out what Gene meant by the eye-of-a-needle comment.

I really don't feel like I've read very much at all here. It could have been another 10k words long before I started to find it in the slightest bit taxing. You. Just. I so appreciate the time you took to structure this so coherently, because I can't even write this comment without rambling. YOU WIN. :D