"Does that attract mals?"

"Nah, but you could've put your pen down in something and now it's in your mouth.  Or I guess it could be a mimic, but you'd notice sooner'n that."

"A mimic would have to be very dedicated to the bit to let you chew on it, yeah."

"Sure would..."  She giggles, but there's a slight edge to it.  "Oh no, imagine how much it would suck if mimics, like, hibernated?"

"Thank you for that nightmare, Connie."

"Sorry."  She rubs at the back of her neck.  "I'm sure glad they're not smart or patient enough to plan that far ahead, huh."  Maybe if she says it firmly enough they won't get any ideas. Not having thought of it is a lost cause, probably thousands of people have had the same idea, but she should really have stopped herself before she shared it. 

"Eh, it has company." He looks at his packet of ramen again, weighs his remaining tokens in his hand. "Head back up?"