So, we know what we're doing this week: Jeph is catching us up on how Marten is reacting to all the changes in the group since the time skip.
I quite liked this conversation because of how
easy it is. Marten as a character has many problems but prejudice has never been one of them. To him, Bubbles is just his room-mate, not a seven-foot tall killing machine. He's even got used enough to her for her size to no longer intimidate him! It's also in character that he assesses the level of Bubbles' welcome by how it benefits
others. That's another character quirk of his.
FWIW, I have to agree with Marten here: A romance between him and Faye would have been a road flare - Hot, spectacular and ultimately short lived, not leaving behind anything viable in its wake.
Of course the real reason why Bubbles is welcome is she knows just the right way to disable Pintsize without killing him. With luck, the constant negative reinforcement will eventually alter his behaviour!
I wonder if Bubbles is gonna talk to Marten about her developing feelings for Faye.
I don't think that Bubbles is ready to admit it aloud to herself just yet, except in unguarded moments, let alone discuss it with someone else. On the other hand, I can see Faye talking to Marten about how he knew Claire was the one and applying that to her own feelings.