"It was uncontrolled! There was some weird mutation somewhere."

"I don't think mutations are usually dramatic enough to change sex."

"Then he was a safeguard, in case you didn't work out."

"Then why doesn't he have magic? Or a sex drive?"

"Hmm... Maybe you were the safeguard in case he didn't work out. Or maybe he was created just to throw us off the government's scent."

"A compelling argument, pet."

"Although maybe the government wouldn't be that competent, it's probably some company."

"I hope I don't get repossessed."

"Me, too, I like having you around."

"Good." Kiss.

Kiss!

"It occurs to me that I forgot to remind you to arrive hungry tonight."

Blink. "Well, I suppose it's good this conversation has kept me from grabbing dinner, then."

"Mm-hm. You can have a little something off my plate if you're ravenous - the point of the evening is about feeding you, not me - but not much. Go get me some macaroni and broccoli."

"Yes, ma'am," she says, melting a bit.

Isabella waits patiently to be fetched dinner and eats and feeds Sadde two florets of broccoli and one forkful of mac 'n cheese.

And Sadde's kneeling there meditating on how lucky she is and how great Isabella is and also a little bit on magic.

"Yes, I do," she says gravely. "Your room."

"Good answer." Tap tap tap out of the cafeteria.

Follow follow follow looking like a lovestruck puppy.

Isabella has acquired many foods. But Sadde doesn't get to look at them. Sadde gets put on the bed and topless and blindfolded instead.

Ooh this is exciting. Sadde's excited. She's visibly excited.

Did Isabella mean for Sadde to make a lot of happy noises? Because she's doing that right now.