He scoffs. More of a laugh, though the corner of his mouth stays curled up for a second at best. Given the past twenty years, state capitols aren't really relevant anymore.

"Yeah alright. Pretty sure we can skip the history lessons," it's not a particularly humid night (and by now his heartbeat's slowing down to a normal, steady pace) but sweat's still pooling up in the hollow of his collarbone and along the edges of his scalp and beard, so Joel pauses long enough to mop at himself with his palm. Flat of his hand flicking off whatever traces of sweat it can catch. "But that ain't a free ride out of school altogether, Ellie."