Bugs are a better specialty than either of those things, [he insists firmly as the mantis perches uncertainly on his shoulder.] The real world doesn't work like that, you know? I like things I can understand and--

[Control, was the next thing, but he closes his mouth and frowns briefly because he's not supposed to be doing that so much anymore. What's terrifying is that he's finding himself being all right at it, acclimating to it, and what if he's never able to go back?]

[Besides which, it's not true. Sometimes the real world does work like that. It did once here, even though it was just for a couple of days.]

[He fidgets a little, wrinkles his nose.]

I watched Pretty Woman about a million times anyway. After. I wanted to understand.