Zev tilts his head. "I believe so?"

"Sounds it. I speak a little. Parents insisted," he rolls his eyes.

"...wait. They actually insisted on something?"

"Shocking I know."

...These people are very confusing. Nova keeps his head down and eats his food.

"It's my first language. English-" The cult insisted on. "English is confusing sometimes."

"French is actually my first language," Lan admits. "And I know what you mean, until 'Chelle and Dad got their hands on me, English was hopelessly confusing."

"Aunt Ange still forgets words," 'Chelle adds.

"I think I'd have an easier time learning French. At least the grammar makes sense."

"That makes sense, same family of languages and all. Try learning English and Swedish at the same time."

"You managed just fine, Sparky. You speak Swedish better than I do."

"Explains why I didn't know...sharesteh?"

"Farmor - uh, my grandma - insisted I learned. I'm glad I did before we lost her."

"Oh, I miss Farmor's almond tarts..."

Aaren doesn't look up from his tablet. "I have the recipe, you know."

"It's not the sa~ame."

"...you'll still make us them though, right?"

"Yes, Jitterbug, I'll still make you almond tarts."

"Sorry for your loss." 

Zev and Nova didn't have families. Zev doesn't know what it's like to mourn a person. He knows how to kill them.

'Chelle leans over to squeeze his forearm. "Thank you, it was a while ago and she had an amazing life, and she was like...ninety five by the time she went? But thank you."

Zev doesn't know how to respond to that so he just offers a smile.

People around him don't often live to 95.

Nova's started playing with the end of his food, moving it around to try and make it look like he's eaten more than he has - he doesn't want to worry Zev, but there really is far too much.

Zev notices this. "It's okay. We're taking it slowly." He shows Nova his own plate. His appetite used to be bigger than Nova's, but he used to be a soldier. 

He takes Nova's hand again, squeezing it, trying to comfort him.  

He leans into Zev.

"It really is okay," Aaren assures. "Please don't make yourself sick for the sake of clearing your plates."