"I've lived a very secluded and sheltered life?" he tries.

"What, are you the Buddha?"

"Well, I did go through an extensive period of eating very little..."

"Seriously dude."

"I'm serious, I did in fact go through an extensive period of eating very little!"

"Make him behave," Alex says, pointing at Sadde and appealing to Bella.

"Oh my god, Alex, solve your own interpersonal conflicts."

He giggles a little, then sighs. "What I've been trying to hint at is that I would very much rather not talk about—that."

"You could just say that."

"Yeah, I just did. Can we change the subject?"

"Do you know his bodhisattvan backstory?" Alex asks Isabella.

"None of your business."

Sadde just stays quiet.

"Mrrg," grumbles Alex.

"Sorry, Alex."

"Get over it, Alex," advises Bella.

"Fine, but it's somebody else's turn to pick a conversation topic."

"Well, um, how long are you visiting for?"

"I leave Sunday. Trains, woo."

"And what are the plans?"

"Probably we'll watch a movie actually in the same room, and she'll look through my portfolio for the last month and a half because she can't psion pictures out of my head yet, and I will attempt to con her into doing my English homework."

"Portfolio? And do you actually expect to succeed in conning her like that?"

"He does not."

"Drawings. And yeah I do, I can't get you to write it down but you always give me an essay's worth of opinions if I plot summary a book and manage to make it sound really frustrating!"

"I can see her doing that," he nods. "And ooh drawings, I wanna see those too!"