"- is abstract thought a sensitive subject -"

"I got stuck in it while it was running once. It was really scary."

"While it was running?"

"Well, there weren't actually concepts in there so I assume it was some sort of preparatory run. But normally we only run abstract thought when there's something Riley wants to think about that way, and it started abstracting us."

"...abstracting you."

"Taking us apart into abstract concepts. We managed to get out before it did anything irreversible."

"...I'm glad of that."

"Thanks."

She holds Bella's hand.

...Bella pats the back of her hand a little awkwardly.

After a bit:

"Should we go see if you can talk to Riley now?"

"I'm not sure what I'd say. Maybe first I should see if I can talk across the door - I don't want to, er, go in."

"Why not?"

"It seems like it might be a bad idea for a human to be in another human's mind."

"Oh- yes, that makes sense."

"So who in there should I talk to?"

"Well, if you can't just talk to Riley, I think Joy and Fear would definitely like to know about this and Anger and Disgust probably would too?"

"- at a guess Joy's the pleasantest conversationalist?"

"I guess she is. Recently, anyway."

"Recently?"

"She used to be kind of mean to me."

"...in... a... happy way?"

"Not really. She's happy about a lot of things but I think she used to really not like me."

"That sucks, I'm sorry."

"Thanks.

We've gotten on a lot better since we got lost together, 'though. She's been helping me with getting back stuff Riley lost in the move and we've started reading tragic romance books together."

"- where do you get tragic romance books? Do you just read them through Riley - how do you get Riley to read them -"