"It's very grand, but that's probably a biologically backed aesthetic opinion."

"Yeah, probably so. It makes me feel vaguely nervous to show you this, even, like I'm making myself vulnerable by showing most of my hidey-holes. But can't let biology tell you what to do all the time."

"I will not show them to anyone else you don't tell me I'm allowed to."

"It's my home, I expect you not to show anyone else. You can tell folk about it as long as you don't write out blueprints or anything, though."

"Right," she agrees. "That's what I meant."

"You learned this language recently," he observes.

"Two days ago, yeah."

"Mind your word choice, I reckon. Listen to folk talking. Your grammar's off just a bit, but consistently, like you're used to a language that's a lot less picky about clause order."

"Mmm, that sounds broadly correct. I learnt this by memorising a dictionary and asking questions about pronunciation and grammar, I build most sentences in my head somewhat consciously before saying them."

He gives her some tips that should hopefully lead to sounding more native.

She will remember them forever, which will not automatically translate to an improvement but will speed said improvement up, probably.

He really likes languages and will continue talking about this one, segueing into some others, for quite a while if unopposed. Though he never talks about the one he used to talk to the other digger.

She finds languages fascinating and her New And Improved™ brain cooperates with this unlike her old one who hated languages so she will definitely not oppose him.

Eventually, though, he wants to get back to digging and kindly asks her to get.

She thanks him ever so kindly for his time and patience and says she had a lovely time and she'll probably be around for a while if he ever wants to talk again and if that'll be all off she goes.

He might take her up on it. But for now, yeah, off she goes. Oh, diggers are nocturnal by the way.

It's maybe two or three AM. Most of the loud college party atmosphere a few tiles over has stopped. Not that it was particularly party-some in the first place, but anywhere with 18-25 year olds with time on their hands will have some parties sooner or later.

She doesn't sleep, though.

Is Karil around when she returns?

Karil is walking around the edge of the forest. At least, that sound is probably him.

There she goes again, then.

Yeah, it's Karil. 

"We meet again."

"Indeed! Diggers are interesting."

"I am glad you enjoyed it, Baso could use more friends."

"I shall be his friend, then."

Solemn nod. "Will you wish to reside here in the future, or simply visit?"

"That... depends on a couple of circumstances out of my control."