"The entertainment is so strange," Kyeo agrees fervently.

"It's not the craziest thing I could have come up with if you asked me what throwing a bunch of universes together would produce after a while, but at the same time... why."

"They could just write the story they have in mind and hire actors."

"Oh, that part I get the appeal of.  It's the same reason nobody choreographs soccer matches."

"But a soccer match is..." What is a soccer match. "Different."

"Yes.  But maybe not to an audience."

"What about it struck you as odd, then?"

"...Not the immorality of it," he tries.  "But the contrast between that and... the way it's reaching for good things, in places."

"What good things?"

"It rescues people from death instead of just sourcing people like the ones who watch the show and making a nice wish-fulfillment story that people would want to imagine themselves in.  Based on what Journey said, I think they're trying to rescue our entire worlds this way.  And all the lovey stuff; I think they're genuinely trying to have us build something real, there.  But then again, it's like - I don't know your story, but why did they pick a guy who was so obviously not going to be over his ex for this."

"I do not have an ex."

"I have a few.  But only one of them's... really notable."

Zane rolls over a little to look at him again.

"Hm?"

"...It's kind of hard for me to read you."

"Is that unexpected, with someone from another planet?"

"No.  I guess I should say, it's only kind of hard for me to read you.  You're a lot more scrutable than Vira-la.  It makes me think I could understand what you mean if I just tried a bit harder."

"Well, I was raised by and among humans, so I suppose it's not strange for her to be more confusing."

"It isn't, no."

He's still looking at Kyeo.

Why is he doing that. Kyeo will examine the flowers instead of staring back at him.

They're in a patch of yellow orchids.

Pretty! They don't have those on Ibyabek.

"Tally's her name.  She got turned into one of the things we don't call soldiers."

"That's a pretty name."