"-I meant arrange a meeting, Ant."

That, on the other hand, gets her attention. Not that she's going to interrupt; she's far too polite for that.

"Uh-huh," Ant doesn't sound too convinced. "It's probably not worth the attention."

"It's upsetting you, bean, it's worth it."

Ant shrugs. "Thanks, Shin."

Then ey looks over to DZ. "Hey. You had a good day?"

"Yes, thank you. Your planet is very interesting."

"It's really cool that you think that! Given like." Ey waves a vague hand. "Although I suppose where you have...uh. Aliens? Non-humans? We've got demons and stuff..."

"We have aliens, but it's unusual for a single planet or star system to have as many different cultures as you do."

"I mean, most demons are technically from another dimension if you're including them."

"It's weird to think of there being less cultures in the same space..."

"I've just been reading about the humans, this afternoon. And I think it's - you don't all have a shared language, or shared currency, and it takes more effort to travel; places here are more separate than places at home, even when they're relatively nearby."

"Yeah. That changes a lot. I mean. Even English. It was weird moving over from England, the dialects are completely different!"

"Mmhmm. And we have aliens who don't speak the common language, but everyone can understand it, no matter where you go."

"That is a thing! I can understand more Japanese than I can speak! Ira and Shin use it when they don't want me to know something!"

"Damn. You've lost me that bet. Ira swore you understood more than you let on."

"Pretending I don't makes him worry less. You wouldn't think he worried as much as he does!" The last is aimed at DZ.

"Yes, Kessen."

Ey tilts eir head curiously. "'Kessen'? What does that mean?"

"It's the gender-neutral honorific from the common language where we're from, similar to ma'am or sir."

"That's really cool! English is missing that. And I mean, the first couple of times cashiers stumbled over what to say was funny but then it just got tiring." Beat. "But, uh, you can just call me 'Ant' if you want. We don't stand on the ceremony here."

"All right."

"-although you should call Ira 'sir' at some point. His reaction would be hilarious!"

"Yes, Ant"

...that's probably not what ey was asking for, tonewise.

No. It wasn't, but ey isn't entirely sure how to explain otherwise. They can work on it.

"Mm. I should get my homework done," ey groans. "Reckon I can get away with linking an essay about women's suffrage to modern day gender presentation?"

"What's the assignment?"